TN govt revises COVID-19 testing guidelines

The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday revised coronavirus testing guidelines, after it announced new relaxations pertaining to intra and inter-state movement of people. The government on Sunday extended the lockdown till June 30 in the state, albeit with new set of relaxations including allowing public transport, a day after the Centre announced "Unlock 1.0" for graded exit from the lockdown.

The Tamil Nadu government had accordingly identified eight zones to allow people's movement, opening up public transport in all but the four worst-affected districts of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. The zones have been formed by combining nearby districts. For example, Zone I will have Coimbatore and its nearby districts of Tirupur, Nilgiris, Erode, Karur, Salem and Namakkal in western Tamil Nadu. According to Health Department guidelines, testing of incoming individuals in intra or inter-district movement  within a zone is not required.

However, "testing to be done only for those coming with symptoms," when people travel from one zone to another, except Chennai, it said. For those moving from Chennai to other zones, testing will be done for all, irrespective of whether the person had symptoms or not, it said. Those testing positive will be sent to hospital while the negative cases will have to undergo a seven-day home quarantine, it said.

"Persons travelling for business trip and returning within 48 hours are exempted from quarantine," but they have  to furnish valid return document, the government said. Those arriving in Tamil Nadu by air and train should have the mandatory e-pass even as testing will be done for all incoming passengers from the "hotspots" of Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat.

Positive cases will be referred to a hospital while those testing negative should undergo 14-day home or paid quarantine, it said. Regarding persons coming from other states, all those  with symptoms will be tested for the virus.

Positive cases will be referred to hospital while those testing negative will have to undergo home or paid quarantine for 14 days, the government said. Meanwhile, the Southern Railway, set to operate four intra-state special trains from Monday, said passengers travelling from one zone to another have to obtain the Tamil Nadu government's e-pass.

It will operate Coimbatore-Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore Janshatabdi special, MaduraiVillupuramMadurai Intercity Superfast special, Tiruchirappalli-NagercoilTiruchirappalli Superfast special and Coimbatore-Katpadi-Coimbatore Intercity Superfast special from June 1.