Madurai man Tamil Nadu's first Coronavirus victim

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Madurai man Tamil Nadu's first Coronavirus victim

In a tweet, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said the COVID-19 positive male patient in Madurai died at the Rajaji Hospital

Wednesday March 25, 2020 10:33 AM, ummdic.com with inputs from IANS

Chennai: Tamil Nadu on Wednesday woke up to the dreaded news of its first death of a Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) patient in Madurai.

Officials of Madurai Corporation and health department are in the process of screening the persons with whom the 54-year old deceased male was in contact.

In a tweet, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said the COVID-19 positive male patient in Madurai died at the Rajaji Hospital.

Vijayabaskar said the patient had a medical history of prolonged illness with steroid dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and uncontrolled diabetes with hypertension.

Meanwhile, Madurai district officials said the deceased was a building contractor and also an office bearer in a mosque committee.

The list of contacts who the dead person might have come into contact has been prepared with the help of family members while his wife and son have been isolated.

'High risk conditions'

Vijayabaskar also said the COVID-19 with comorbidity like uncontrollable diabetes and hypertension, immunosuppression are high risk conditions and asked people with such conditions to be extra cautious.

Out of the total 18 COVID-19 infected persons in the state, one person was discharged from the hospital and one death, the total number of patients now are 16.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had announced a series of measures in the Assembly to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state. He said barring the transport of essential items, public and private transport including auto-rickshaws, and taxis would not be allowed to operate.

Free supplies of ration

Palaniswami also announced free supplies of ration, and several other welfare measures involving an outlay of Rs 3,280 crore for the benefit of the poor to tide over their livelihood problems owing to the lockdown.

The welfare measures include cash assistance of Rs 1,000 for all those families with ration cards eligible to get free supply of rice, oil, sugar, lentils in April.

Ration card holders, who missed buying in March can buy their quota in April; free supply of 15 kg rice, 1 kg each of cooking oil and lentils for construction and unorganised sector workers from other states identified by the District Collector or welfare boards of the concerned unorganised sector; continued supply of subsidised food at Amma Canteens.

Other welfare measures

The welfare measures also include setting up of kitchens for supply of food for destitutes across the state; registered pavement vendors to be paid an additional Rs 1,000 as cash assistance in addition to the Rs 1,000 paid through public distribution system and two days special wages for those who had worked under the MNREGA.

In the case of the private sector, employees should be asked to work from home barring medical staff and hospitals.

In respect of manufacturing units, those producing essential items and export units can work with limited number of staff and in the case of realty sector, construction activities are to be stopped barring essential buildings.

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