Hospitals Asked to Provide Masks as Airborne Illnesses Spread

Tamil Nadu's health ministry has urged every hospital to make face masks readily available for patients, relatives and staff. The directive addresses a sharp rise in respiratory ailments, including COVID‑19, chickenpox and measles, which can be transmitted through coughs, sneezes and skin lesions.

Although there is no legal compulsion to wear a mask, the department emphasizes that responsible behaviour can curb the chain of infection. Facilities are also requested to set up hand‑sanitising points and to flag patients who may need to be kept apart from crowds.

The advisory clarifies that masks do not prevent diseases spread by mosquito or mite bites, such as dengue and scrub typhus, but they are effective against illnesses that travel through the air.