New Covid cases in Tamil Nadu top 20,000; Chennai reports record high 8,218 fresh cases – Times of India

Chennai News

CHENNAI: New Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu reached 20,911 on Thursday, marking several grim milestones.
Chennai reported 8,218 new cases, the highest number in a day since March 2020, while active cases in the state crossed 1 lakh after 210 days. Twenty-five deaths were reported on Thursday, the highest since October.
On October 7, Tamil Nadu reported 27 deaths and the daily toll has been declining since then. Over the past four days, the total number of deaths in the state has been increasing though there is no change in the case fatality rate. The weekly average of deaths per day, which was around nine a day between Christmas and January 9, rose to 10 on January 10. From an average of 13 deaths a day on Wednesday, the 7-day average of deaths in the state has touched 15.
The active cases, meanwhile, increased by nearly 16% in the past 24 hours to 1,03,610 on Thursday. On Wednesday, the state had 88,959 people in Covid isolation. The last time the state had more than 1 lakh people undergoing treatment was on June 17, 2021, when the second wave was receding. However, despite an increase in active case numbers, nearly 90% of hospital beds in the state were vacant.
On Thursday, together with Chennai, its three neighbouring districts — Chengalpet (2,030), Tiruvallur (901) and Kancheepuram (502) — added 11,651 new cases, making the region the state’s hotspot.
Pongal gatherings may lead to more cases: Health secy
Meanwhile, TN added 56 more confirmed cases of Omicron taking the tally to 241. Ten patients were cross notified to other states and UTs, and the remaining 231 patients have been discharged.
In the west, Coimbatore crossed the four-digit mark and added1,162 new cases, and among others Madurai reported 599 new cases and Trichy 465. At least 30 of the 38 districts in the state reported an increase in fresh cases, compared to their Wednesday tally. Thirty districts reported more than 100 new cases and among them Chennai, Chengalpet and Coimbatore had more than 1,000 new cases.
Health secretary J Radhakrishnan said the week ahead will be crucial for the state as there will be an increase in inter-state and interdistrict travel, reunions and gatherings for Pongal. People from urban areas could take infection to rural areas and vice versa, he said. “Cases are likely to increase for a few more days,” he added.
With 56 new cases, Ariyalur had the least number of new cases followed by Nagapattinam (57) and Mayiladuthurai (58).
The 25 deaths were reported from13 districts, including eight in Chennai, three in Madurai, two each in Tiruvallur, Tuticorin and Tiruvannamalai and one each in Chengalpet, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Virudhunagar, Cuddalore, Dindigul and Ramanathapuram. The cumulative covid toll since March 2020 touched 36,930 keeping the case fatality rate at 1.3%. At the end of the day, 6,235 pa- tients were discharged from the active registry. At least 1.45 lakh took the Covid vaccines on Thursday. This included 28,007 people in the 1518 age group.. In addition, 73,030 people took the precautionary dose.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/new-covid-cases-in-tn-top-20k-chennai-reports-record-high-8218-fresh-cases/articleshow/88886315.cms