One more victim of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu; 77 new cases found

A 70-year-old woman died of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu on Friday, taking the toll in the state so far to nine, while 77 people tested positive, pushing the total to 911, Chief Secretary K Shanmugam said. The woman died in Tuticorin, he said.

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An expert committee of doctors appointed by the government recommended extending the 21-day lockdown by another 14 days to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

In a significant development, Chief Secretary K Shanmugham addressed the regular press briefing which was hitherto handled by Health Secretary Dr Beela Rajesh. However, the latter was also present at the briefing on Friday.

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The Chief Secretary said that all 77 patients, who tested positive, have contact or travel history, and 70 of them have links to the “single source event in Delhi,” an oblique reference to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the national capital. He also said the state was still in Stage-2 of the disease and the source of infection of all but 23 patients has been conclusively established.

“Only for 23 patients, we have not been able to directly establish the source of infection. Even in these patients, we can indirectly conclude the cause,” Shanmugham said, adding that efforts were on to ensure new cases don’t emerge from non-containment zones.

He also said 72 patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) were tested for COVID-19 but 67 tested negative, while the test results of remaining five are yet to come.

The Chief Secretary said there was no shortage of masks or medical equipment in Tamil Nadu as the state was directly procuring them without “solely” depending on the Centre.

On extension of lockdown, the top bureaucrat said experts were of the view that ending the lockdown before the spread of COVID-19 has been contained would make the last few weeks' progress fruitless. A decision on extending the lockdown would be decided after Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami meets with the Prime Minister and state cabinet colleagues on Saturday.

The state has so far tested 8,410 samples and have placed 1,987 persons in isolations wards in hospitals. It also plans to begin mass testing of people from this weekend once it gets one lakh rapid test kits from China.