By Matters India Reporter
Chennai, June 27, 2020: The Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore has set up a healthcare team to address Covid-19 disease spreading rapidly in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
“As the pandemic poses a serious threat, the archdiocese sprang into action to safeguard its priests, sisters and lay people,” Father Vincent Chennadurai, spokesperson of the archdiocese informed Matters India on June 27 through an email message.
As on June 27, Tamil Nadu reported 78,335 positive cases, the third highest in India after Maharashtra and Delhi. The state also reported 2,558 Covid-19 deaths.
Chennai and Tiruvallur districts the archdiocese covers have accounted for more than 55,000 positive cases and 830 deaths.
Archbishop George Antonysamy on June 21 convened a brainstorming session with doctors, healthcare workers, priests and nuns managing St. Thomas Hospital and St. Isabel Hospital in Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu state.
The meeting led to the formation of the Archdiocesan Covid Health Care Team.
The archbishop then sent out a circular to priests, Religious and lay people on what they should do when someone is infected with Covid. The archdiocese has asked priests and Religious to fill up a form to self-declare their medical history so that they could be given medical care accordingly.
“The team has identified places to quarantine people and hospital with simple facilities to treat Covid-19 patients,” Father Vincent explained.
The team has identified a panel of doctors who are specialists in various illnesses. “They will be ready to assist people round the clock,” Father Chinnadurai explained.
The local unit of the Conference of Religious India has agreed to coordinate with the nuns and the healthcare team.
The archdiocese has procured ventilators and provided priests with medical kits, Father Chinnadurai said.