Active COVID cases falls below 6000 in Tamil Nadu

551 positive cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Tamil Nadu on Monday, bringing the state tally to 8,31,323. Among these, Chennai reported 158 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,29,238.

The state recorded eight deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 12,272. All eight of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. The state discharged 758 patients following treatment, putting the total number of recoveries at 8,13,326.

A total of 26 passengers who had returned to Tamil Nadu from UK and 20 of their primary contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 till date. Among the 26 primary cases, nine cases were reported in Chennai, three each in Thanjavur, Madurai, Nilgiris, and Chengalpattu, and one each in Theni, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore, Karur, and Virudhunagar. Among the 20 contact cases, six were reported in Chennai, three in Thanjavur, two each in Nilgiris and Theni, four in Chengalpattu, and three in Nagapattinam.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s visit to Delhi on Monday gained huge significance with multiple sources in the AIADMK and BJP mentioning negotiations to let V K Sasikala — the ousted party leader who is scheduled to be released from a jail in Bengaluru on or before January 27 — merge or join the AIADMK-BJP alliance before the Assembly polls.

 Palaniswami is expected to talk politics with BJP bigwigs on Monday and Tuesday during the visit, which has been touted as one to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the newly-built Jayalalithaa Memorial in Chennai.