Chennai, Jan 6 (BPNS)
The Tamil Nadu government has geared up for facing the third wave in the state with the Omicron variant of Covid -19 increasing the number of fresh cases in the state.
The state, according to health officials has already readied up 1.16 lakh beds of which more than 20,000 are oxygen beds. During the last pandemic, 222 Oxygen plants were established by the state and central government voluntary organisations in the state. These oxygen plants were capable of producing 244 metric tons of liquid oxygen per day.
Health department officials said that orders have been given for 50,000 more oxygen beds in the state given the possibilities of a surge and with this, the state would be more or less equipped with the health infrastructure.
State health minister, Ma Subramanian in a statement on Wednesday said that the same volume of Oxygen will be made available in different parts of the state taking into consideration the high spurge in cases.
More than 2000 volunteers are already listed with the state health department and will be deployed in various districts of the state, according to information received at the state health department in Chennai.
Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has already conducted a high-level meeting on Wednesday in which all senior ministers of the Tamil Nadu government participated. Chief Minister has called upon the health minister to direct all the district health officers to increase the number of testing per day.
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has already increased testing from 22000 to 30,000 per day following the rise in the number of Omicron cases.
The state has already announced a night curfew from January 6th from 10 pm to 5. 30 am and a complete lockdown on January 9th, Sunday. The state health department has also commenced the vaccination for the adolescent population in the age group of 15-18 with 33.5 lakh people in this age group to be vaccinated. Health department officials told IANS that around 7. 7 lakh children in this age group have already been vaccinated after the commencement of vaccination in the 15-18 age group on Monday in the country.
The Tamil Nadu government has already declared announced closure of classes 1 to 9. However, examinations and classes for students of Xth, XI, and XII will be conducted along with the vaccination for these students. Colleges have also stopped conducting model examinations but the regular examinations for college students will be conducted physically.
The Greater Chennai Corporation has also set up a 1000 bedded facility at Chennai World Trade Centre premises including oxygen beds in anticipation of a probable surge in Covid -19 cases.
The Chief Minister, M.K.Stalin visited the Directorate of Medical Services at Tyenampet on Wednesday and conducted an inspection of the godown for storing oxygen cylinders and other life-saving equipment. The Chief Minister went around the emergency control room and the state war room and inspected the preparedness.
State minister for health and family welfare, Ma Subramanian while speaking to BPNS said, “The state government is fully prepared for the third wave and we have already arranged oxygen cylinders as well as medicines and oxygen beds for treatment of Covid -19 patients.”
