2 women die of COVID-19 in TN; 5,000-mark breached, 580 new cases

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Chennai, May 7 () Two women succumbed to COVID-19 asTamil Nadu reported 580 fresh cases, a large number of whichare linked to the Koyambedu hotspot here, pushing the tally to5,409 in the state. Following the death of the two persons, the number offatalities in the state climbed to 37.

Of the 580 cases, 316 were from Chennai and the aggregatenumber of those infected in the state capital stood at 2,644as on date, a health department bulletin said.

After seeing an all-time single day high of 771 additionson May 6, the number of cases today slid to 580 even asthenumber of samples being tested is steadily on the riseandtotally 14,195 samples were tested today alone, the highest sofar in a day.

Cuddalore and Ariyalur as on date have 356 and 246 casesrespectively, while Chengelpet near here has 158.

Krishnagiri, which till recently had no cases has eightinfected people as of now. "A large number of today's (Thursday) cases are linked toKoyambedu market," the bulletin said addingthat totally,3,822 are active cases and the tally till date is 5,409.

As many as 1,547 people have been discharged from varioushospitals in the State following recovery today.

A 56-year-old woman with co-morbid conditions fromTiruvallur and admitted to the Kilpauk Medical CollegeHospital succumbed to the illness on Wednesday and a 48-year-old woman treated at the Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital diedof the contagion, it said. In a span of about three days (between May 4 and 7),Tamil Nadu has added 1,859 new cases and a vast majority ofthem are contacts linked to the Koyambedu market here, whichhas emerged as a big source for the spread of the contagion.

On Monday, Tamil Nadu had 3,550 cumulative cases andtoday the aggregate number is 5,409. As seen in recent days, there were several children amongthe newly infected today also. VGN NVGROH ROH