The state of Tamil Nadu has reported 759 fresh cases that were tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Saturday through which the state has crossed 15,000 mark by reporting 15,512 cases so far in its territory including the active, recovered, and deceased patients. The state has also reported five fresh fatalities taking the death toll past 100. 

By this time on Tuesday - May 19, the state had crossed the tally of 12,000 cases and in the span of five days, the state has added 3,000 cases with an average of 600 fresh cases per day. According to the official press release issued by the health department, Tamil Nadu has tested 3,97,340 samples so far including 12,155 samples that were tested on Saturday of which 759 samples returned positive for the virus. 

These 759 cases include 49 people who returned to the state from other regions (24 returned from Maharashtra, seven came from London, six from Rajasthan, five from the Philippines, three from West Bengal, and one each from Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Of these 759 cases, 429 are males and 330 are female patients and 625 people belong to Chennai, 39 from Chengalpattu, and 22 belong to Thiruvallur.

13 belong to Kancheepuram, 11 each from Thiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli, five from Thoothukudi, four from Villupuram, three each from Salem and Ramanathapuram, two each from Cuddalore, Madurai, Tenkasi, and Virudhunagar, one each from Pudukottai, Ranipet, Theni and 12 people who returned from London and the Philippines have been kept under quarantine in the airport. 

The press release stated that Tamil Nadu has reported 363 fresh discharges on Saturday taking the total number of discharges to 7,491 so far. Chennai has reported the highest number of discharges with 4,051 so far as of Saturday. 

The state has also recorded five fatalities through which the death toll crossed 100 and currently stands under 103. Tamil Nadu is the eighth Indian state to report more than a hundred COVID-19 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry.

According to the state's press release, all these five fatalities died due to COVID-19 were recorded in Chennai and all the deceased had co-morbid conditions. Chennai is just numbers away to hit 10,000 mark. Through reporting 625 fresh cases on Saturday, the city has recorded 9,989 cases so far which is nearly 60 -70% of the total number of cases recorded in the state. As of Saturday evening, the state has reported 15,512 positive cases so far of which 7,915 are active - including isolation, 7,491 have been discharged, and 103 had succumbed to the virus.

To read the press release, visit: https://stopcorona.tn.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Media-Bulletin-23-05-20-COVID-19-6-PM.pdf