Tamil Nadu records 3,965 new Covid-19 cases,69 deaths

Tamil Nadu on Saturday recorded 3,965 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection count to 1,34,226 in the state, the health department said.

A department bulletin said 69 people succumbed to the virus, pushing the death toll to 1,898.

The number of recoveries continues to remain significant as 3,591 people were discharged today after being cured of the disease.

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Cumulatively,85,915 patients have been discharged following treatment till date, the bulletin said.

Meanwhile, State higher education minister K P Anbalagan, who had tested COVID-19 positive, is recovering, according to the hospital treating him.

"Anbalagan is in isolation and his condition is stable.He is expected to be discharged very soon," the hospital said in a statement.

According to the health department, the active cases in the state stood at 46,410 as of today.

The number of samples examined so far increased to 15,66,917 with 37,825 specimens being tested on Saturday.

Chennai recorded a further dip in the number of fresh cases as 1,185 people tested positive for the virus, totalling 76,158 till date.

The fresh cases include 58 returnees from other locations.

Districts continued to record an increase in new infections with Chengalpet reporting 237 cases, Kallakurichi 102, Kancheepuram 119, Kanyakumari 131, Madurai 276, Salem 132, Theni 119, Thiruvallur 346, Tuticorin 174, Tiruchirappalli 127 and Vellore 135.

Among the fatalities recorded today, eight were without any comorbidities.

A 24-year-old man from Chennai and an 84-year-old man from neighbouring Thiruvallur district were among those who succumbed.

The number of those discharged in Chennai was at 1,791 today, comparatively higher than the number of new infections.

Out of the 102 testing facilities, 53 of them were government operated, the bulletin said, adding a private health care institution has received approval to conduct COVID-19 tests.