Tamil Nadu records 759 new Covid cases; 138 in Chennai

CHENNAI: The number of new Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu has continued to decline with 759 people testing positive on Sunday.
With 138 cases, Chennai continues to report the maximum number of fresh cases, followed by Coimbatore (92) and Chengalpet (53). While Chennai had a Test Positivity Rate (TPR) of 2.7%, the other two districts had a higher TPR. TN's overall TPR is around 3 %.
A brisk discharge rate has helped the state in bringing down the number of active cases to 7,406. It was around 12,200 (40% higher) at the start of this month. Only less than one in tenth of the 7,406 patients (584) needed hospitalisation and others with mild symptoms like cold or fever are in home isolation.
There were zero deaths in the last 24 hours leaving the state's toll unchanged at 38,032. Health minister Ma Subramanian attributed the fewer deaths in the last two or three months to vaccine coverage. According to official data, 95.5% of the vaccine-eligible population here have got their first dose and 89.41% have got their second doses.
Meanwhile, the state has announced that mega vaccination camps will be organised every alternate week to improve its booster shot coverage. As a part of the country's Independence Day celebrations, booster shots are administered at government health centres for free.
At the next mega camp on August 21, not only Covishield and Covaxin but Corbevax vaccines will be made available for those willing to get their booster shots. TN has already begun using Corbevax but only for children in the age group 12 to 14.
Answering questions on restrictions during I-day celebrations, the minister said, "There are no newer restrictions for these gatherings, but we expect everyone to follow existing covid protocols."