Chennai: After recording a dip in the number of cases of coronavirus infection over the past few days, Tamil Nadu has once again reported a spike, with 120 new cases on Tuesday. Of this number, 103 were recorded in state capital Chennai alone.
Four children under two years of age – including a five-day-old baby – are among those who tested positive on Tuesday. Two police officers and a wholesale market vendor in Chennai's Koyembedu also tested positive. The source of infection of a few of the cases is being investigated.
A 68-year-old patient passed away in a private hospital on Tuesday, according to a government bulletin. The aggregate number of infections in the state has risen to 2,058.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami, chairing a review meeting of top officials at the Secretariat, said cases in the state were on the rise as people have a casual attitude towards norms like social distancing and do not understand the gravity of the contagion.
While 27 people were discharged following treatment at various hospitals, the aggregate number of people recovered so far was 1,128, the bulletin said.
Chennai continues to top the list with a total of 673 cases, while Coimbatore has recorded 141 cases and Tiruppur 112.
Cities like Chennai are likely to see an extension of the lockdown beyond May 3 to contain the spread of virus, according to government sources.
"The problem lies in the vegetable markets of big corporations like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai," said the chief minister. "Despite telling people (on precautions to be taken against COVID-19 like social distancing), they do not follow it and think of it casually. They don't understand the intensity and impact of this
disease."
Underscoring that Tamil Nadu was still in the early stages, unlike some nations which were witnessing full-blown spread of the virus, Palaniswami said, "When we take appropriate steps, the spread of the contagion can be easily halted if people give their full cooperation."
If such support was not extended, the state may not be able to rein in the spread of the infection even if other nations manage to control it, he said.
"Hence, people should follow the government imposed curbs understanding the gravity of this disease (COVID-19). Police and local administration departments should take up street to street propaganda using public address system- fitted vehicles and create awareness among them," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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