IndiaChennai, May 5 (): The number of coronavirus cases inTamil Nadu continued its upward trend on Tuesday, going pastthe 500 mark for the second consecutive day as Chief MinisterK Palaniswami attributed the rise to testing a higher numberofsamples.
Of the total cases reported so far in Tamil Nadu,approximately 950 are linked to the Koyambedu hotspot,authorities said and those who tested positive today too werecontacts.
A day after the government said state-run liquor outletswill be opened on May 7, Chennai Corporation, on its twitterhandle said shops in the state capital areas that fall underthe jurisdiction of city police will not resume operations.
Several areas, though form part of neighbouring districtsincluding Chengelpet and Tiruvallur, are under the city policecontrol.
Two deaths were reported, taking the toll from the deadlyvirus in the state to 33, a Health Department bulletin said.
With 508 new patients on Tuesday, the cumulative tallystood at 4,058 and the active cases at 2,537, it said.
After chairing a review meeting at the Greater ChennaiCorporation, the Chief Minister told officials that only TamilNadu has as high as 50 labs to conduct COVID-19 tests andadded that the number of people being tested has also beenincreased.
The government later updated the number of labs as 52 (36in government and 16 others in private sector) following twoprivate labs getting permission for testing coronavirus.
"Daily about 12,000 people are being tested and only dueto such a high number of tests is the number of those turningpositive also on the rise," he said.
Palaniswami said the public need not fear over morepeople testing positive as anti-COVID-19 initiatives werebeing pursued on all fronts, including prevention.
He said rice ration card holders would get essentialcommodities free of cost in June as well, like in the monthsof April and May.
Chennai remained at the top among the 37 districts, as itrecorded 279 of the fresh cases, taking its total to 2008,followed by Cuddalore (229 cases) with 68 additions.
Among the reasons for rapid spread of the contagion inthe state capital was higher density of population in crampedlocalities and through public toilets, Palaniswami said.
To address such concerns, disinfection was being carriedout thrice a day in containment zones and public convenienceswere often cleaned up.
Mobile testing facilities were also being deployed, hepointed out.
Also, IAS, IPS officials and 10 committees, comprisingofficials, besides a nodal officer (a senior State official)were appointed to coordinate anti-COVID-19 initiatives inChennai, he said.
As many as 4,000 beds are ready in Chennai alone andimmunity boosting preparations like zinc and multivitamins,besides Ayush formulations were being provided to people,including front line warriors, the Chief Minister said.
As regards fatalities today, a city-based 56 year-old manwith co-morbidities and a woman aged 60 became the latestfatalities at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.
They were admitted to the hospital on April 26 and May 2,respectively, the bulletin added.
So far, 1,74,828 samples have been taken for testing.
COVID-19 tests were being done in 36 government and 16private labs all over the state, it said.
With the number of cases showing a steady increase, thegovernment asked the general public to adhere to health andtravel advisories issued by it.
The government also rescinded the nod it had accorded fordomestic workers to resume work inview of increasing cases. VGNSA APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH