While COVID-19 cases continue to be on the rise in Tamil Nadu, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar has said that a second lockdown is not on the cards. In an interview with The Hindu’s Kathelene Antony, Vijayabaskar, who is AIADMK’s candidate from Viralimalai constituency this Assembly elections, has said that while the government hopes for better public cooperation, a lockdown similar to the one last year, is not being planned. Over the last 12 days, the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases in the state has been at an alarming 135%.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Friday received a dose of Covaxin at the vaccination centre at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) to build confidence in doctors, nurses and healthcare workers.

The Health and Family Welfare Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr C Vijayabaskar took Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin shot. He took the shot in Chennai on morning of January 22. Dr C Vijayabaskar requested all to get vaccinated and safeguard themselves from COVID-19 pandemic. Billed as the world’s largest vaccination programme, covering the entire length and breadth of the country, the drive aims

State health minister C Vijayabasker, addressing reporters, revealed that 13 people who had returned from the United Kingdom and 12 of their contacts had tested positive for Covid in Tamil Nadu. Their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, for genome sequencing to check if they have been infected with the new strain of the coronavirus circulating in the UK.

The State government has already taken all necessary precautionary and safety measures. “Details of the 1,088 persons, who had arrived in Tamil Nadu from abroad over the past 10 days, have been collected and they were being closely monitored,” Mr.Vijayabaskar said speaking to reporters at Viralimalai in Pudukottai district.

Mr. Vijayabaskar said RT-PCR tests were being done on all those returning from abroad by state and central governments and the test results were being provided within three hours.

With many a patients, all over the world, battling for their lives because of terminal organ failures, organ donation holds a special place in humanitarian deeds. One not only does provide the other with a better quality of life, but also with a will to live. With the ongoing pandemic and its woes continuing to batter humankind, a “best State award” for organ donation is something to be proud of for Tamil Nadu.

From 100% PCR tests at the very start of the pandemic, India is now down to less than 60% PCR tests - while Antigen tests have risen sharply from a negligible number to now almost 5.5 crores, which accounts for over 40% of total tests.

With 34,427 applications received for 4,061 MBBS seats, counselling will be conducted in a vast area like Nehru Indoor Stadium in compliance with the COVID-19 precautionary norms of masking and maintaining physical distance, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said on Thursday.

“November 12 was the last date for submission of applications for admission to MBBS. As many as 34,427 students have applied for 4,061 seats. As per the plan, we will release the merit list on November 16 and counselling will begin on November 18 or 19. It will start with the special counselling, followed by 7.5% quota for NEET-qualified government school students,” he told reporters.

As part of the newborn care week being observed from November 15 to 21, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar on Friday gave awards to nine neonatal intensive care unit centres in the State.

According to a statement, the centres awarded were government hospitals in Coimbatore, Egmore government hospital in Chennai, Tiruchi medical college, Kanyakumari, Vellore, Dharmapuri, Thirupathur, Namakkal, and Virundhunagar.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, in a press release, said medicines were delivered at the doorsteps of 52,489 patients Anti-tuberculosis drugs were delivered at the doorsteps of 52,489 patients undergoing treatment for TB during the lockdown in the State.