AMN
The total caseload of COVID-19 infection has crossed two lakh twenty thousand with close to seven thousand people confirmed positive for the virus today in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy launched today the distribution of free masks to all families through the public distribution system.
The free masks are being given in the first phase to over 69 lakh families covering all urban local bodies outside Chennai.
The remaining areas will be covered in the next phase. The scheme is being rolled out as a mask is the most effective and the most feasible preventive tool against the virus that is available as of now.
There are 2.08 crore ration cards in the state comprising over 6.74 crore family members. All will be given two reusable masks each. The total cost is about 30 crore rupees and it is being said that the benefits far outweigh the cost.