Chennai: For the second day in a row, Tamil Nadu reported moderate 38 positive cases as the curve, indicating the spread of COVID-19 virus in the state started to flatten, giving a sigh of officials and frontline health workers.
On Wednesday, two people, who were undergoing treatment in hospitals died, taking the death toll COVID-19 to 14. A 41-year-old man who was undergoing treatment at Government hospital in Chennai and a 59-year-old man undergoing treatment in a private hospital died, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar told reporters on Wednesday.
The minister, who was away from the limelight for nearly a fortnight after an alleged misunderstanding with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, appeared before the media for the first time in about 15 days. Health Secretary Beela Rajesh, who was addressing daily press conference stood by his side. The minister, however, said he was very much active.
A day after reporting 31 cases, the state witnessed 38 cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of positive cases to 1,242. The minister said 34 of the 38 cases were from ‘single source’, three had contact history, he said adding a Post Graduate Medical student was the fourth to test positive.
He said 37 people were discharged from various government and private hospitals after undergoing treatment during the past 24 hours. So far, 118 people have been discharged after treatment. During the last 24 hours, a total of 2,739 samples were lifted for test and 38 tested positive. For the first time, a SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) case was tested positive he said, but there was nothing to worry, he said.
Tamil Nadu success story
Vijayabaskar said the state has 26 laboratory facilities, including private with the total testing capacity of 5,320 per day. Tamil Nadu has the highest laboratory and testing capacity in the country, he claimed. Health workers posted at the laboratories worked round the clock in three shifts, he said.
He said that the big success story of the government was Tamil Nadu could keep the COVID-19 mortality rate under control. The state has enough stock of medicines and medical equipment, and there was no shortage. All those who were in the containment zones would be subjected to testing.
Poor situation
The total cases in India are nearing the 12,000-mark with over 400 deaths. The global infected tally has crossed two million with over 1.29 lakh fatalities.