Of the total 1,14,260 positive cases reported in Chennai, 1,00,643 people have recovered and been sent home, which is 88 per cent recovery rate, according to data provided by GCC. A total 11,209 people are under treatment and 2.1 per cent (2,408) of the infected persons died due to COVID-19. On Friday, the city reported 1,187 new cases whereas 837 people recovered from the disease. Only 9.81 per cent of the total infected persons are being treated now.

Tondiarpet, Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones, which were the worst-hit during the earlier days of outbreak recorded 92%, 91% and 90% recovery rate respectively. Also, Teynampet, Manali and Tiruvottiyur crossed 90% recovery rate. As per the civic body data, Kodambakkam, Teynampet, Anna Nagar and Royapuram registered more than 10,000 recovered cases on Friday. Corporation officials attributed this decline to the intensified testing across the city and effective management of the home quarantine system.

On the other hand, of the eight extended zones, six have more than 10% active cases. With 1,563 infected persons, or about 21% active cases, Ambattur zone is the worst-affected as of now. Tondiarpet zone has already reached the target of 5 per cent active cases. “The stability we have reached has been sustained for a month and it will take some more time for the dip to become steady. Masks and social distancing will have to be there for at least four to five months,” G Prakash, Chennai Corporation Commissioner said.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, “This is the stage where we need to be very careful as Chennai is vulnerable to local clusters and Anna Nagar, Adyar, Ambattur and Kodambakkam are focus areas for further improvement. Greater public compliance and behavioural changes has been instrumental.”