4 new IMCT teams in Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Surat to make on spot assessment of COVID-19 situation

New Delhi: Four new Inter-Ministerial Central Teams constituted by Ministry of Home Affairs reached Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat and Chennai respectively.

In Ahmedabad, the team headed by an Additional Secretary level officer is holding talks with the District Collector, Police Commissioner and other higher officials from the state government. The team is also likely to visit the old walled city area which has emerged as the major hotspot of COVID-19 in the city.

Another inter-ministerial team started its interactions in Surat as well. Both the cities have reported the maximum number of Covid 19 cases in the state.

A five member Inter-Ministerial Central team led by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Arun Baroka has begun taking stock of COVID-19 situation in Hyderabad. The team visited Gachibowli Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital as part of its efforts to assess the preparedness of the health sector in combating COVID-19 in Hyderabad. The team will also be visiting some other facilities in Hyderabad and interact with the health officials, health minister and other top officials during the day.

Central Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), MHA, Govt. of India headed by Sri Arun Baroka, Addl Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakthi and team along with Senior Police officers of City Police. pic.twitter.com/EBuNt6TRrk

— Anjani Kumar, IPS, Stay Home Stay Safe. (@CPHydCity) April 25, 2020

In Chennai, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team met the Chief Secretary and higher officials in the Secretariat this morning.

Meanwhile, the state government has declared full curfew for Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore Corporations for four days since tomorrow morning. Salem and Tiruppur Corporations will undergo the full curfew for three days from Sunday.

The maximum COVID-19 caseload in Tamil Nadu is in Chennai. Therefore the central team comprised of Dr Anita Khokhar, Dr Surya Prakash, Dr Lokendra Singh and Dr Vijayan is assessing the ground realities in the city today. They reached Chennai by a special aircraft last night and reviewed the situation with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials this morning. Later, they held a comprehensive discussion with the city Corporation officials about the ongoing efforts to contain the disease spread, the capacity expansion for testing and treatment and relief efforts.

In the afternoon, there were plans to visit the exclusive COVID-19 treatment facility in the city.

Meanwhile, full scale lockdown for four days comes into effect in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, and Tiruppur and Salem will face complete shut down for three days from tomorrow morning. People could be seen forming long queues before vegetable and meat stalls in Chennai today to stock up the things sufficiently.