Chennai, Mar 22 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma.Subramanian
said fresh cases of COVID are increasing in the State, but the influenza
cases have come down.
Talking to reporters here after holding a meeting on COVID prevention
and precautionary measures with health officials, he said the Omicron
subvariants XBB and BA.2 remain the dominant variants in circulation,
leading to hike in corona cases.
He said the Union Health Secretary had issued a circular to Tamil Nadu
last week on the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country.
In Tamil Nadu, the daily cases dropped to two nearly two months ago
and there were one or two deaths due to the contagion in the last eight
to nine months, Mr Subrmanian said.
Noting that there was now rise in cases in Tamil Nadu as well,he said
the Omicron subvariants XBB and BA.2 were in circulation. “However,
there are no deaths or patients requiring treatment in the intensive
care units”.
The Minister said till 10 days ago, two per cent random testing of
travellers from countries, especially the commercial hubs such as
Dubai and Singapore, resulted in one person testing positive once
in 2 or 3 days.
However, six to seven persons have tested positive in the last two
to three days, he said, adding, the Union Health Ministry had advised
monitoring of cluster areas.
However, the subvariants had not caused any cluster of cases so far.
On influenza cases, Mr Subramanian said following rise in flu cases,
fever camps were being held continuously through 476 mobile medical
units.
In the last 10 days, 23,833 camps were held and 10,47,001 persons were
screened. Of them, 7,255 fever cases were identified. All of them were
provided treatment and advised home isolation.
“As of now, we have 15 active cases of H3N2 in the State. The flu cases
have declined. At the same time, COVID19 cases are rising. Though there
is no need for panic, we should stay safe,” he said.
The Minister said the sample of a 27-year-old man, who died of COVID
recently, was sent for whole genome sequencing, and found to be of the
Omicron subvariant XBB.
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