Tamil Nadu: GCC launches 24*7 triaging centre for COVID-19 patients in Chennai – Times Now

Chennai: A 24*7 screening centre, which is said to be the largest in the city, has come up in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai. The Greater Chennai Corporation opened this facility on Saturday near Chennai railway station.

At least 1,000 COVID-19 patients can be screened at this centre each day. People who have tested positive for the virus must visit the screening centre where various tests including x-rays will be carried out to determine the severity of the infections of COVID-infected patients.

Depending on the results, further medical advice on whether the patient should be hospitalised, isolated at home or sent to COVID care centres will be provided.

The officials added that the new centre will be operating round the clock and will further reduce the stress and overcrowding at the hospitals where patients with mild, or no symptoms assemble out of fear.

The city had 13 other screening centres but they were not operational during the night. Thus, patients who received RT-PCR test reports at night started rushing to the hospital.

As the city is witnessing an exponential rise in coronavirus numbers, four more centres will be added in the city.

MA Siddique, senior IAS officer said, “This is in preparation to manage the increase in cases. Chennai has 33,000 active cases now and it might go up to 60,000 cases,” as reported by the Times of India.

The new facility at Island grounds is equipped with two X-ray machines and two blood sample check machines, informed a GCC official. People facing difficulties in breathing can also rush to the centres and if needed, facilities will be available to rush them to the hospital.

GCC commissioner G Prakash said that their aim is to achieve 75% in terms of people visiting screening centres after testing positive for the virus.