After 123 days, the number of persons testing positive for COVID-19 crossed 1,000 in a single day in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. A total of 1,063 persons tested positive for the infection in the state, with 35 of the 38 districts reporting fresh infections. The last time the state recorded more than 1,000 cases was on February 19 (1,051).
The fresh cases in the state increased by about 37% as compared to the previous day’s figure of 771. The overall positivity rate was 4.6%.
In Chennai, the daily caseload touched the nearly 500-mark. The cases rose to 497 from the previous day’s 345. 190 cases were reported in Chengalpattu, 63 in Tiruvallur, 50 in Coimbatore and 49 in Kanyakumari. Only Ariyalur, Kallakurichi and Ramanathapuram had no fresh cases.
Among those who tested positive were two persons who had returned from the United Arab Emirates and Maharashtra. The total number of cases in the state stood at 34,64,131.
While 567 persons were discharged after treatment, the total number of active cases in the state crossed the 5,000-mark. At present 5,174 persons were under treatment. Out of this, 2,472 cases were reported in Chennai and 948 in Chengalpattu.
A total of 22,946 samples were tested. There has been a slow and steady increase in the number of beds in COVID-19 health centers and hospitals across the state. At present, 284 beds—of which 113 were oxygen-supported—were occupied. Chennai alone has 132 beds.