Coronavirus threat: Tamil Nadu has action plan in place, here’s what it is

Coronavirus outbreak: There are currently no suspected patients with the virus admitted to any state hospital. But it confirmed there were 1,367 patients in home-based self quarantines for possible links to virus-affected regions and symptoms.

Silently, an efficient public health system in TN monitors the coronavirus outbreak; over 1,000 in isolation

Visitors and exhibitors wear masks in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, during the 35th edition of AAHAR, at Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

Amidst the fear of fresh cases of coronavirus being reported, Tamil Nadu’s public health system and community health workers are currently monitoring over 1,000 patients in home quarantines.

According to Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Public Health (DPH), there are currently no suspected patients with coronavirus admitted to any state hospital. But it confirmed there were 1,367 patients in home-based self quarantines for possible links to virus-affected regions and symptoms. Hundreds of public health workers are monitoring these patients over the phone.

The government has also converted some hospital wards across the state, especially in Chennai and other major towns, into isolation wards. The DPH said isolation wards with a total of 235 beds are ready for use across the state. The state health department has also identified several buildings nearby major airports to convert as isolation wards as part of a standard contingency plan.

At least 20 medical workers, including doctors from the state health department, are deployed in a 24-hour service at the Chennai International Airport considering the number of airlines operating from far eastern countries. Not less than a dozen doctors and nurses are deployed at other major airports too, including Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore, to screen passengers.

State public health director Dr K Kolandaisamy assured the situation in the state was not worrying. “We have deployed an efficient public health system on the ground and monitoring all potential cases besides following adversaries and protocols issued by the state and Centre. There is no need for panic in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Arun Janardhanan

Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More

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