Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabaskar has been relentlessly working around the clock towards ensuring that the state and its people are protected from Coronavirus (COVID19), the global pandemic that has been putting thousands to interminable sleep, leaving lakhs to lose their sleep, causing unprecedented damages to the global economy and countries, and testing the capabilities of the world on dealing such deadliest epidemics. 

Being the new entry in the line of contagions, the world leaders are taking all the possible parameters and mechanisms to counter the pandemic amid the absence of a vaccine or potential remedy. India has no exceptional from the virus as it has let the Central government put nearly one-fifth of the world's population inside their residences by implementing nationwide lockdown and in the state of Tamil Nadu, the state government has rolled out preventive measures to contain the spread and while most of the people stay indoors, the state health mechanism is working tirelessly so is the health minister to leave no stones unturned towards fighting the virus. 

Vijayabaskar has become the face of counter-operation against the pandemic and its obvious that the task he has taken on his shoulder is not an easy one as the human to human transmitting virus has been rapidly spreading across the state and at this high time, we had a conversation with the state Health Minister to know the current state of the virus and to understand how Tamil Nadu is prepared to combat the spread.

In our conservation, Vijayabaskar said the government has ensured the essential measures that require to deal with the current situation. At the world stage, the numbers of the infected cases increased dramatically in a short period and with the view of avoiding such rampant rise and circumstances, the Chief Minister has imposed a curfew under section 144 in the state and the Prime Minister has implemented a nationwide lockdown in the country. Vijayabaskar stated that staying at home at this lockdown becomes mandatory and important as this lockdown period plays a vital role in ascertaining the situation on how it would be after the tenure ends.

When we asked about prevailing over-confidence and extreme fear among the people towards dealing with the virus, the minister requested the people not to have any sort of over-confidence at this crucial time but rather people should follow the directives and advisories issued by the government and they must follow self-isolation and social distancing for themselves and others. He advised the people not to have extreme fear or anxiety and appealed to the aged people and people with chronic illness, co-morbid conditions, and pre-existing ailments like uncontrollable diabetes and hypertension to stay vigil, wear masks, stay home, and to take medications at their residences.

The minister asserted that the state doesn't have community spread and all the positive cases have either from abroad or came to contact with already affected patients. The health department is able to control the spread as the authorities immediately quarantine the people who have come in contact with the affected patients or with asymptomatic people and the department takes all the people the patients have come through the contact and kept under quarantine. The department is facing a huge challenge in procuring the medical equipment and mechanisms due to the complete lockdown and lack of transportations. However, the state government has been on alert for the last two months and the government has already purchased and stocked the essentials in advance and the government is placing further orders to procure more mechanisms. 

While quoted about state Taskforce convener Dr. Giridharan's statement that the state is moving towards stage three, the minister divulged that the government is taking the necessary steps to stop the state from hitting stage three and the government has been taking measures for the people and at this time of lockdown, everyone must pledge themselves to stay in the home and stay in isolation for the betterment of the families and the country and the people have to follow that to prevent the state from heading towards the next stage and they have to tolerate and bear the inconvenience during the lockdown period as it's for their betterment.

The Minister stated, " We are risking our lives, we are running for you, the government doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff stay active for the people, sanitary workers are disinfecting the city, the police department has been working on the roads by wearing masks and we just ask the people to co-operate with the government as their co-operation would benefit them and their families and reduce the risk of community spread and we are asking the people to stay at home to break the chain of the virus mutation and if everyone stays responsible during the lockdown, it would benefit them, the society, and the country".