The state of Tamil Nadu has reported 77 fresh cases tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday putting the total number of affected cases to 911 so far in its territory, which, at the national stage, the second-highest number of affected cases after Maharashtra. The current positive cases include active, recovered, and deceased patients.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shanmugam took charge of the daily briefing on Friday that was usually given by Health Secretary Beela Rajesh. The Chief Secretary has put out the developments in the state concerning the outbreak during which he said that the state has reported with 77 fresh cases and he stated that the Chief Minister is reviewing the situations to issue the final directive of whether the statewide lockdown would be extended beyond April 14th.

77 new COVID19 cases reported in the state today; the total number of COVID19 cases in the state is 911: Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary CS Shanmugam pic.twitter.com/kJ8rVHOeSZ

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2020

According to the reports, the state has recorded 35 cases as of March 27th and over a fortnight, the state has reported with more than 850 cases affected by the virus and the state has been adding nearly 50 to 70 cases per day on average to its count since March 31st, 2020. With the increase in numbers, Tamil Nadu stays in second place in India with having more number of positive cases after Maharashtra, which, according to the Union Ministry of Health, reported 1364 cases so far.

Chief Secretary Shanmugam stated that all these 77 positive cases were been kept under quarantine facilities. He further revealed that the state has recorded fresh fatality on Friday as a woman, who was tested positive for the virus, had passed away in Tuticorin and through her demise, the state has reported its ninth fatality and 44 people have recovered so far in the state. The Chief Secretary asserted that Tamil Nadu is still wheeling on the second stage of the virus and the government has been rolling out preventive measures to contain the further spread of the virus in the state.

The reporting of 77 cases has come hours after the medical committee formed by the state government recommended the Chief Minister to extend the lockdown for another 14 days after April 14th as the cases have been surging high despite the efforts and precautions. It has been highly speculated that the state government would keep the role of embargo and restrictions throughout April to battle against the global pandemic.

As of Friday evening, the state has reported with 911 positive cases of which 858 are active patients, 44 have been recovered and discharged while nine have succumbed to the virus. These active cases include Indians and foreign nationals and getting treated across the state and most of the positive cases have attended the Tablighi Jamaat Conference that was organized in Delhi last month.

Also read: 14 more days? TN medical panel recommends EPS to extend the lockdown!