Tamil Nadu Covid lockdown news live: State receives 85,000 doses of Covaxin, says DPH Dr Selva Vinayagam

The Greater Chennai Corporation has so far vaccinated 8,239 traders, workers and others at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex. Covid-19 protocols were not being followed strictly at the wholesale market. Despite lockdown and restrictions, traders continued to crowd. Many of them were not wearing masks properly. Last year, Koyambedu was a major Covid cluster. READ FULL STORY

The liver damage that results from overeating and lack of exercise is just as bad as that caused by excessive alcohol consumption, says Dr Dinesh Jothimani, director, Hepatology & Medical Gastroenterology, Rela Hospital. “Between 2009 and 2019, the cases of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or non-alcoholic fatty liver have increased by more than 200% in those referred to the Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, which I oversee,” he says. READ FULL STORY

The government’s decision to cap prices of essential medical items should bring down Covid-19 treatment cost at private hospitals, but activists doubt if the public will benefit as hospitals might charge under a different head. READ FULL STORY HERE

At least 1,052 people have been identified to have mucormycosis in the state and each of them requires two weeks of treatment. The state has sought 35,000 vials of the medicine from the Centre and has so far received 3,060 vials. But the state has been offering treatment to all patients in special wards.

The state did not receive any fresh stock of vaccine on Wednesday when 12,609 people were vaccinated in government centres and 2.8 lakh took the jab in private centres, up from Tuesday's 2.6 lakh. Vaccination centres in most districts were closed as they did not have adequate stock. Officials said they did not when they will receive the next stock.

The state's weekly average test positivity rate is hovering around 13.2%, while it is around 6.3% in Chennai. Nearly 23 districts including Coimbatore (29.9%), Tirupur (24.9%), Erode (23%) and Theni (21.5%) have TPR above state average. On Wednesday, Coimbatore reported 2,319 cases followed by Erode (1,405) and Chennai (1,345). All other districts reported less than 1,000 cases. Sivaganga reported the least cases - 117, followed by Ramanathapuram (127) and Perambalur (133).Ariyalur and Coimbatore were the only districts with more than 75% bed occupancy. "Lockdown was a bitter medicine, but a powerful one," said health minister Ma Subramanian. "From more than 35,000 cases a day, cases have come down to 17,000. Beds are now available in several districts," he said.