One dead, 77 new corona patients in TN; total tally 911

Chennai, April 10 (IANS) As many as 77 persons tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of Covid-19 patients in the state to 911, said Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam on Friday.

An elderly woman in Tuticorin died due to Covid-19, taking the toll in the state to nine.

The total number of Covid-19 patients who got discharged from the hospital fully cured to date was 44.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Shanmugam said all the 77 persons were from quarantined/contained area and not from outside.

According to him, in a day or two, family members of all patients will be surveyed for coronavirus infection symptoms.

He also said the Central government has given Rs 314 crore to Tamil Nadu from the National Health Mission to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Queried about the expert medical group’s recommendation to extend the lockdown period by two more weeks, Shanmugam said a decision will be taken on Saturday after a video conference meeting between Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to him, after the video conference, there will be a cabinet meeting and the decision on extending the lockdown will be taken.

The medical expert team had said that despite the various measure taken by the state government, the rate of coronavirus infection has not gone down.

On the delay in receiving the rapid test kit from China, Shanmugam said the kits will arrive in a day or two, adding that the state government on its own has been taking measures to procure test kits and personal protective equipment and is not dependent on the Central government.

He stressed that Tamil Nadu is still in Stage-II of the virus spread and has not entered the stage 3 — the community spread.

–IANS

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