There is no sign of any let up in the coronavirus pandemic in Tamil Nadu as Sunday saw 64 persons testing positive for covid-19. Total number of persons tested positive in the State till Sunday reached 1,885, according to Dr C Vijaya Baskar, health minister, Tamil Nadu.
Sources in Fort Saint George (Tamil Nadu secretariat) told The Pioneer on Sunday that the lock down in the State may be extended beyond May 3, when the second phase of lock down comes to an end. Chennai and surrounding regions, districts of Madurai, Salem, Tirupur, Coimbatore were shut down totally from Sunday 6 am for the next four days. The capital city wore the look of a ghost town with deserted thoroughfare, closed down shops and business establishments. Except for ambulances, government cars, police and media crew vehicles, not even personal vehicles were to be seen in Mount Road and other arterial roads.
The number of persons died due to coronavirus related issues reached 24 on Sunday with one more person succumbing in a city hospital. The day also saw 60 persons undergoing treatment getting discharged from various hospitals following their recovery. Till date 1,020 persons have been cured of coronavirus all over Tamil Nadu. The minister also said there were only 838 active cases in the State.
The number of testing facilities in the State too went up to 41 which would hasten up the process of testing and evaluation, said Dr Baskar.
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy said in a release that criminal proceedings would be initiated against those who object the burial/cremation of persons succumbing to covid-19. “They will be charged under various sections of the IPC making them liable for prison sentence up to three years,” said the Chief Minister.
The State was shocked when hundreds of believers stood guard in front of the Kilpauk cemetery to prevent the burial of Dr Simon Hercules, managing director and neuro surgeon of the New Hope Hospitals Ltd who passed away last Sunday following coronavirus attack.
Police and corporation officials were forced to take the mortal remains of D’ Hercules to a public crematorium following the violent resistance from the mob at Kilpauk cemetery.