Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu: Chennai accounts for 266 of state’s 527 new cases

Pushpa Narayan & V Mayilvaganan | TNN | Updated: May 4, 2020, 20:01 IST

Mobile Covid-19 testing units are seen at Koyambedu market in Chennai on Monday. Photo by A Prathap

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu reported 527 more Covid-19 positive cases on Monday, taking the total number to 3,550 and pushing some districts -- that were declared yellow zones – back to red zones.
With 266 new cases, Chennai continued to see the maximum number of positive cases in the state followed by Cuddalore district, which as 122 cases, and Villupuram, which has 49.
"A large number of cases are linked to Koyambedu market in Chennai,'' said press release. On Monday, officials decided to close the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex.
“The aim now is to do focussed testing on high risk group and symptom-based test for all others,” said a senior health department official.
The state tested 12,773 people in 50 testing labs, including 36 in the government sector. At the end of the day, 30 people were discharged taking the total number of people recovered 1,409.
A 65-years-old man with comorbidities, who was admitted to Stanley Medical College Hospital, died due Covid-19 taking the state’s toll to 31. Chennai also reported 18 of 31 deaths. As many as 1,438 of the 2,107 cases still under treatment in the city.
The spike in Covid 19 cases on Monday would pull a few districts that moved to orange zone back to red. Cuddalore, which recorded its sharpest spike ever with 122 cases on Monday ,is all set to go back to red zone. Similarly, Villupuram and Tenkasi are also likely to be reclassified as red zone from their current position of orange. Dindigul district, which reported ten new cases, would be back in red.