TAMIL NADU COVID -19 REGULATIONS, 2020

PREAMBLE

In exercise of powers conferred under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (central Act 3 of 1897), the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby makes the following Regulations.-The Regulations

Regulation - 1. Short title.

These regulations may be called the Tamil Nadu Covid -19 Regulations, 2020.

Regulation - 2. Definitions.

(1)     "Authorized person" means the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, the Director of Medical Education, Deputy Director of Health Services, Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, District Collectors or any other Medical Officer not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon.

(2)     "Collector" means the District Collector or any other Officer authorized by the Government to perform the functions of the District collector.

(3)     "COVID-19" means a Disease caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona Virus 2 (SARS-COV-2).

(4)     "Designated laboratory" means any laboratory designated by the central or State Government for the purpose of COVID-19.

(5)     "District Nodal Officer" means the Nodal Officer appointed for COVID-19 by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in each district.

(6)     "Hospital" means a place where patients are admitted for medical treatment and includes a Government Hospital.

Regulation - 3. Duties of Hospital.

(1)     Every hospital shall maintain rooms or wards exclusively to examine and screen persons suspected of COVID-19.

(2)     During screening of such cases, shall record,-

(i)       whether the person has travelled to any country or area where COVID-19 has been reported during the last 28 days; and

(ii)      the history of the person coming in contact with a suspected or conformed case of Covid-19.

(3)     In case the person falling under sub regulation (2), the hospital shall,-

(i)       if the person is asymptomatic, he shall be advised to be in Home Quarantine for 14 days; or

(ii)      if the person is symptomatic as per case definition of COVID-19, then he shall be isolated in the hospital as per the guidelines of the Government of India issued from time to time in this behalf.

(4)     Every hospital shall collect samples for Covid-19 as per the guidelines of the Government of India issued from time to time in this behalf and send them to the Designated laboratory through the District Nodal Officer.

(5)     Every hospital shall immediately inform all suspected cases of Covid-19 to the city Health Officer in the case of Chennai district and to the Deputy Director of Health Services in the case of other districts.

Regulation - 4. Power of Authorized Officer.

If any person falling under sub regulation (2) of regulation 3 refuses to be isolated and admitted in a hospital, the authorized officer shall forcefully admit and isolate him for a period of 14 days or till the report of the designated laboratory tests are received, whichever is earlier. Thereafter, further treatment shall be given based on the result of the Laboratory Test.

Regulation - 5. Containment Measures.

If cases of COVID-19 are reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, city, ward, colony, settlement, the collector shall have the right to implement following containment measures, but not limited to these, in order to prevent spread of the disease namely:-

(i)       sealing of the geographical area.

(ii)      barring entry and exit of population from the containment area.

(iii)     closure of schools, offices or any establishment and banning public gatherings.

(iv)    banning vehicular movement in the area.

(v)      initiating active and passive surveillance of Covid-19 cases.

(vi)    designating any building as containment unit for isolation of the cases.

(vii)   direct staff of any Government department for discharging the duty of containment measures.

(viii)  any other measure, as may be directed by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Regulation - 6. Private Laboratory.

No private laboratory shall take or test samples of COVID-19.

Regulation - 7. Precautionary Measures.

(1)     Any person with a history of travel in for a period not less than 28 days to a country or area from where COVID -19, shall report himself to the nearest Government Hospital or at any time, call toll-free helpline number 104 or report to the control Room (044-29510500, 044-29510400, 9444340496, 8754448477) at the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine or to the helpline number of the district concerned, available at the website www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in.

(2)     Any person with a history of travel to a country or area from where COVID -19 for a period of not less than 28 days but does not have any symptom of cough, fever or difficulty in breathing, shall isolate himself at home. Such a person shall take precaution to avoid contact with any other person including family members for a period of 14 days.

Regulation - 8. Dissemination of Information.

No person or Institution or organization shall use any print or electronic media for dissemination of any information regarding COVID-19 without obtaining prior permission from the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Director of Medical Education or collector.