Chennai: Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan imposed a penalty of Rs 500 against those who don't wear masks in public places in the state. After providing relaxation for a couple of weeks, the state has once again imposed a penalty amid increasing positive cases and the outbreak of a COVID-19 cluster in IIT Madras.
On Friday, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, "It's important to use a mask. We only provided exemption from fines for some time. However, people who refrain from wearing masks will once again be fined Rs 500."
On the IIT cluster, Radhakrishnan said, "18 new students have tested positive for COVID-19. With the new cases, there are 30 positive students in IIT-M. These students have tested positive out of over 700 tested samples."
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"We have identified the rooms for isolation in IIT-M and have kept the students under isolation. We have also identified Kings Hospital for emergency care. However, the students have only mild symptoms like sore throat and one student alone has a fever. The oxygen level of the students is stable," he said.
The COVID-19 cluster in IIT Madras was found after 12 students tested positive for the virus on Thursday.
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With the outbreak, Tamil Nadu once again made thermal screening and use of masks mandatory in the state.
Meanwhile, Minister Ma Subramanian said, "We are going to conduct a special mega vaccination camp to vaccinate the left out two crore people in one lakh places of the state."
As of Thursday, the state recorded 39 new cases and witnessed 26 discharges of COVID-19 patients.