Pondy CM urges private medical colleges to help fight COVID or all their beds will be utilised for Corona patients 

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Thursday called upon all private medical colleges to cooperate with the government in its fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. He cautioned that the non-cooperating private medical colleges will be attached under the Disaster Management Act and all the beds will be utilised for COVID patients.

In a virtual press conference here, Narayanasamy pointed out the government attaching the Sri Venkateswara Medical College Hospital in the UT. He said that more and more people are getting infected and the number of deaths is also going up.

No relief was there even though a total lockdown was imposed on Tuesday last, he said, adding that the people should cooperate and follow all the guidelines like adopting sanitation, maintain social distancing and wearing masks. The Chief Minister said he could find nothing of these in a shop he visited today and cautioned the proprietor that it will be locked and sealed if he continues to work like this.

Pointing out the Lt Governor urging the Centre to depute a Central team to Puducherry, Narayanasamy said that he does not have any objection and added that the Central government only imposed the lockdown, gave relaxations and issued guidelines and Union Territory of Puducherry followed everything.

But the spread of COVID was not reduced, he said and added that health staff and others are working hard in the field. The protection of those in forefront needs to be ensured, he said.

He called upon the Hindus to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi in their houses and not to erect an idol of Lord Ganesh in streets which will lead to the spread of COVID due to people coming out. Narayanasamy also called upon Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his decision and accept the post of Congress President.