Covid-19 surge: Tamil Nadu govt asks people to wear masks in crowded places, maintain social distancing

The circular issued said all healthcare facilities must verify the availability of essential medical supplies, including antiviral drugs such as Oseltamivir and the necessary diagnostic consumables for managing Influenza-like Illnesses.

Chennai: With Covid-19 cases on the rise, the Tamil Nadu government has asked district authorities to step up diseases surveillance and implement proactive measures to ensure early detection, reporting, and response to cases of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI).

The government also encouraged people to wear masks in crowded places to reduce respiratory transmission and asked them to cover coughs/ sneezes with a tissue or elbow and dispose of tissues hygienically.

As of May 31, 2025, Tamil Nadu has reported 185 active cases with one death due to the Covid-19 virus.

In a circular issued to health and district authorities, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) asked District Surveillance Units to ensure consistent daily monitoring and reporting of ILI and SARI cases from all healthcare facilities under their jurisdiction.

“Any unusual clustering of cases must be reported without delay to the State Surveillance Unit (SSU) to enable timely public health response. Once clusters are identified, close monitoring should be maintained, and necessary follow-up actions must be carried out in coordination with field-level teams and Primary Health Centres,” the circular added.

The circular issued by Dr T S Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, said all healthcare facilities must verify the availability of essential medical supplies, including antiviral drugs such as Oseltamivir and the necessary diagnostic consumables for managing Influenza-like Illnesses.

It is also imperative to assess and ensure sufficient bed capacity in fever wards, with contingency plans in place to accommodate any surge in patient numbers, Dr Selvavinayagam added.

Among preventive measures, the DPH asked authorities to promote regular handwashing with soap or use of hand sanitizers, especially in communal settings, encourage wearing masks in crowded places to reduce respiratory transmission, and discourage touching of the eyes, nose, and mouth to lower the risk of infection.

The measures also included maintaining a safe distance from individuals showing symptoms of respiratory illness and asking individuals to seek medical care early if experiencing symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, or body pain.

The DPH also asked people to stay home when sick to prevent further spread of illness.