In a quick interview with The News Minute, an official from Chennai’s Health Department explains that they have privately managed to trace all those who visited the store in the mall between March 10 and March 17 (when all malls were ordered to close down in the state). He said, “We did not have to broadcast a message since lakhs of people would have visited the mall during the said period and the message would only create unnecessary panic in the city. We contacted the store and retrieved contact details of all those who purchased in the store between the said period. We have reached out to about 3000 customers. In addition to it we are already following up with 360 employees of the store.”
Phoenix Mall is now being completely scrutinised by the Health Department. Public health authorities are now directly tracking all employees of the mall, instructing them to quarantine themselves immediately. Should they develop any symptoms, they have been asked to report themselves immediately using COVID-19 helplines. (Chennai South helpline number – 89396 31500, Chennai north helpline number – 94464 77658)