An analysis of COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks shows how the pandemic has thoroughly spread across Tamil Nadu.

The State has added 1,02,572 patients since July 5, when the lockdown was relaxed across the State. While 26,441 (25.8%) of these cases came from Chennai, 17,317 (16.9%) came from nearby Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur districts. The remaining majority of 58,814 cases (57.3%) came from other districts. In contrast to the initial stages of the pandemic, when Chennai and its surrounding districts accounted for more than 75% of the cases, the region now accounts for below 60%.

This reduction is not due to a fall in cases in the Chennai region, but due to an increase in cases in other districts. While many districts reporting a high number of cases are from the southern districts, the spread is across all regions, with districts like Coimbatore and Salem in the west, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai in the north and Tiruchi and Thanjavur in the delta also seeing a spike.

On July 5, 21 districts had less than 1,000 cases, but on Sunday, there were only 11 districts with less than 1,000 cases. Similarly, in the same period, districts with 2,000-10,000 cases increased from just five to 20.

The number of deaths reported in the districts too has gone up, with 31 of the 37 districts reporting a marginal to significant increase in their Case Fatality Rates (CFRs).