With the number of COVID-19 cases going up steadily in the city, Greater Chennai Corporation has posted a medical officer, designated as a divisional health officer (DHO), for each division.

Order to this effect was issued by Corporation Commissioner G Prakash on Saturday, as the total number of positive cases in the city reached 30,444. As per the order, the DHO would be responsible for the public health activities in the division/ ward of the Corporation. The DHOs would coordinate with the assistant engineers of the division to carry out fever surveillance and to conduct fever camps. Besides, the DHO would also coordinate contact tracing with the sanitary inspector, follow up home isolated patients and will concentrate on the protection of vulnerable people Meanwhile, the State continued with the spike in number of deaths, with 30, including 26 in Chennai, losing their battle. With this, the toll now stands at 397. Of the 26 deaths reported in Chennai, 2 were in their twenties. This included a 27-year-old male, who was assaulted by 10 persons and another 27-year-old female, from Chennai.

The State also recorded the highest single-day spike in the number of positive cases with 1,989 testing positive for the virus. So far, 42,867 have been affected by the virus in State. With 1,484 in the city alone contracting the virus, the count in the city rose to 30,444 while the number of deaths escalated to 316.

The new cases included 33 people, who have come from other States and countries. Cases in neighbouring districts also continued to surge with Chengalpattu recording 136 cases, Tiruvallur 78 cases Kancheepuram 22 cases. Tiruvannamalai recorded 49 cases and Thoothukudi 28. With 1362 recovered on Saturday, 23,409 people have defeated the virus.