TN medical students claim they don't have enough masks, hand sanitisers to handle COVID-19 in govt hospitals

Medical students in Tamil Nadu are demanding that they are provided with free masks and hand sanitisers, as they deal with an increasing inflow of patients during these COVID-19 laden times. This comes in the ake of the TN Government's order shutting down malls, parks, theatres, schools, colleges and what not, with the exception of medical colleges and hospitals.

In a release, the Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association stated that while they appreciate the state's efforts to close all private enterprises, they are unclear about what is expected of the medical students and workers. "Is the government really bothered about the students in medical colleges, resident doctors and workers?" they ask. They go on to demand that government medical college doctors be provided with free face masks and hand sanitisers and in good quantity as well  — something that they claim has been found to be lacking.

TNMSA has also asked that undergraduate medical (MBBS) students are also considered on par with other students in the state and be given holidays in light of the pandemic. They also claimed that they had not been trained to handle the Coronavirus pandemic, "We are not equipped to be on a war-footing," they said.

On Monday night, the Tamil Nadu government issued orders to shut down all public spaces including malls, clubs, bars, amusement parks, schools and colleges except for medical colleges. Even though Tamil Nadu has not yet recorded any deaths due to Coronavirus, many are claiming this could be because of low testing in the region. However, the government is taking efforts to avoid the spread of the virus through public gatherings.