Till Monday evening, a total of 17, 082 persons were tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu since the pandemic broke out in mid-January, according to Dr Vijaya Basker, Minister for health. Addressing the media, the Minister said 805 persons were tested positive for the pandemic on Monday alone, the highest number to be tested positive in a single day.
But the hike in the number of covid -19 cases in Tamil Nadu were aggravated by the arrival of positive cases from other States, particularly Maharashtra, said Dr Baskar. He said the 712 persons tested positive on Monday include 87 who reached the State from Maharashtra. Out of the 712 persons tested on Monday, Chennai accounted for 549 cases.
While releasing the details of the coronavirus status of Tamil Nadu , the Minister said the State has recorded the highest number of tests carried out all over the country. “ A total of 4,21, 480 persons have been tested in Tamil Nadu till Monday. We have 68 laboratories functioning 24X7 all over the State. The WHO has congratulated the State for the maximum number of tests carried out and has asked us to continue the testing with the same vigor,” said Dr Baskar.
Seven persons died on Monday in various hospitals in the State, taking the total number of fatalities to 118. The day saw 407 persons cured of the disease getting discharged from the hospitals, taking the total number of discharged persons till date to 8,731.
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has convened a high power meeting on Tuesday to discuss the new situation arising out of the hike in the number of patients tested positive in the State.
Eminent physicians including Dr CV Krishnaswamy and Dr Kulandaiswamy told The Pioneer that there was nothing to be scared about the hike in the number of coronavirus cases.
“The Government has undertaken an aggressive testing procedure and it is paying off. In another couple of weeks, the spread of the pandemic will subside,” said Dr Krishnaswamy, leader of the medical team that has developed an Ayurvedic drug to fight corona which is yet to be considered by the ministry of Ayush for clinical trials.