Chennai, April 1 (BPNS)
The Director of Public Health in Tamil Nadu has made masks mandatory in all public health centres in the state. This is following a huge increase in the number of Covid -19 positive cases in the state. It is to be noted that while the number of fresh Covid 19 cases in the first week of March was 21 while on March 31st it was 123.
The manifold increase in the number of Covid 19 cases has led to the state health department directing the health centres to make wearing of masks compulsory.
The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health and Preventive medicine issued directive on Saturday following the joint advisory from the Indian Council of Medical Research( ICMR) and the Union Health Ministry.
The Omicron variant XBB.1.16 is increasing in large numbers as indicated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). However, the hospital admission rates and mortality rates are less.
The Tamil Nadu health department has in the advisory stated that all medical professionals including doctors, nurses, paramedics, postgraduate students who are doing rounds in wards, frontline workers are all directed to compulsorily wear masks.
The private hospitals are also to comply by the directive.
The state health department has directed the Deputy Director of Health Services and City Health Officer, Greater Chennai Corporation are directed to ensure the compulsory wearing of masks always in health centres.
The Department of Public Health has also directed the health department officials to ensure the wearing of masks or else revoke the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act 1939.
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