Chennai, June 7 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has allayed the fears of the people over the spike in COVID-19 cases stating that it was of less intensity, while advising pregnant women, the elderly people and those with co-morbidities to wear masks while moving in public places and maintain social distancing as a precautionary measure.

Talking to reporters in Perundurai last evening after a convocation ceremony at Government

Erode Medical College and inaugurating new buildings and laying foundation stones for new buildings, he said though no official advisory was issued on making wearing masks mandatory,

it was advised that pregnant women and elderly and those with comorbidities to wear it in public places.

Mr. Subramanian said that while the Union Health Ministry typically issues advisories to all the

State governments during a spike in cases, no such advisory has been issued, so far in the State.

Stating that the symptoms of the current Omicron variant included fever, throat pain, cold and

cough, he said those with such symptoms were advised to visit the nearest government hospital

for treatment.

He also said the state government was all geared up tackle if there was any spike in cases by keeping ready 94,000 beds have been kept ready across the government hospitals in Tamil Nadu

for treating COVID-19 patients, besides ensuring enough stock of oxygen.

Tamil Nadu has so far reported little over 200 covid cases and four deaths, which were attributed to

cormorbid conditions and heart problems.

UNI GV 0610