Chennai: In Tamil Nadu, the total number of Covid-19 cases has surpassed the four lakh mark. 5981 people were tested positive in the state during the last 24 hours, while 5,870 others were discharged from the hospital, taking the total number of recoveries close to 3.44 lakh.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy told reporters in Cuddalore yesterday that more relaxations from the lockdown would be announced gradually. The Chief Minister said that he will decide on relaxations based on his interactions with the district collectors and medical experts tomorrow.
In another development, the SMS service to inform COVID-19 test results is being expanded gradually in all government facilities in the state. It is aimed at minimising hospital visits.
When a person gives samples for the Covid-19 tests, she or he has to visit the lab at least twice, once for the tests and the next time for collecting the results. If the result is negative, the repeat-visit often becomes unnecessary and avoidable, especially at a time when travel is advised to be kept to a bare minimum. Keeping this in view, the Tamil Nadu Government recently introduced the test result intimation through sms, in Madurai and Salem to begin with. Last Wednesday, it was launched in the Government Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai as well. There are currently 146 approved laboratories for Covid-19 tests including 63 Government labs. The government is planning to make it available across the state in a few weeks.
