Covid-19 Cluster Spotted In Chennai's ITC Grand Chola Hotel As 85 Including Staff Test Positive

Since December 15, 2020, 85 individuals tested positive at Chennai's luxury hotel ITC Grand Chola including staff members. Read on.

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Chennai: In a serious development, around 85 people in Chennai's ITC Grand Chola tested positive for Coronavirus since December 15, 2020, a senior official revealed.  609 sampled were collected at ITC Grand Chola and out of them, 85 individuals tested positive including staff members. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan informed that the Greater Chennai Corporation has been instructed to carry out saturation testing of all the guests at the hotel. "The Chennai Corporation was asked to conduct a saturation test for all the residents of the hotel," he told reporters. In its defence, ITC Grand Chola stated in a release that events at the property were conducted following the norms mandated by the authorities. Only 50 percent capacity of the hall was being used to ensure maximum social distancing and safety, it added. On December 15, a chef tested positive becoming the first case in the chain to be spotted then on December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2021 - 16 and 13 cases respectively were found to have contracted the virus. "Of the total of 609 samples collected till now from the hotel and in and around the residences of the staff, 85 have so far been found to be positive. They all displayed mild symptoms and were sent home after treatment," Health Secretary Radhakrishnan said. The hotel stated that all associates were being tested regularly and monitored, "which is an ongoing process and part of our hygiene protocol." "Extreme care and diligence continue to be followed at all touchpoints and all necessary information has been shared with the authorities," it added. ITC Grand Chola has also claimed that "while the GCC has classified some associates as asymptomatic and mild, the majority of our associates are working from home and have been absent from the property and so have no contact with other associates and guests". The  Health Secretary informed that hotels in the city have been periodically screened and sensitised. The civic staff under Joint Commissioner of Health, GCC, S Dhivyadarshini has conducted fever camps where all employees and guests were advised to undergo testing. (With Agency Inputs) WATCH | Will we get nod for vaccine's emergency use? DCGI press conference at 11 am