Amid soaring COVID-19 cases and the prevailing challenges to contain the spread of the global pandemic in the state of Tamil Nadu, Special Nodal Officer for Chennai's COVID-19 taskforce J Radhakrishnan has asserted that the curve of the affected cases can be flattened if people ensure to wear a mask, which has become a part of daily life.

While addressing the reporters after taking stock of COVID-19 situation in the city at the Greater Chennai Corporation office complex, Radhakrishnan said the virus infection has been decreasing in Chennai in the wake of implementing the tight containment strategies. By acknowledging that the Tondiarpet and Royapuram zones have become a huge challenge for the government, he appealed to the people not to get panic due to the rise of positive cases.

According to the special nodal officer, the spread of the pandemic can be curbed if people compulsorily wear masks for at least one month. He stated that the government has taken measures to conduct testing for every symptomatic people living in every street in Chennai. The nodal officer further warned people that the case will be filed against those who have breached the barricades and restrictions and hop out from the containment zones.

Such people will be kept under government quarantine. He added that people who came into contact with the COVID-19 affected patient must be directed to remain under home quarantine and the rest of the family members would also be required to stay under quarantine. If anyone has failed to adhere to the home quarantine measures, they would be taken under government quarantine at least for 14 days.

Chennai has become the active and biggest hotspot in Tamil Nadu with two-thirds of total cases reported in the state. The city currently has been demarcated with 15 zones and according to the Chennai corporation, Royapuram - Zone 5 has reported 3224 cases so far as of Thursday morning followed by Tondiarper - Zone 4 with 2093 cases. So far, Chennai has reported 17,598 cases while Tamil Nadu's tally stands at 25,872.

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has attributed the soaring high cases to the increase in COVID-19 testing. Tamil Nadu has been carrying out the highest number of tests than any other state in India. As of Wednesday, the state has tested 5,28,534 samples. The Chief Minister has reiterated that the public should wear masks and adhere to the social distancing norms and called for their co-operation to contain the spread.

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