The state of Tamil Nadu has reported 203 fresh cases that were tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday taking the total number of affected cases to 2,526 so far in its territory including the active, recovered, and deceased patients.

The reporting of 203 fresh cases has been recorded as the highest single-day rise in the number of cases so far in the state surpassing the previous tally of 161, which was reported on Thursday. Tamil Nadu has been witnessing soaring high cases affected for the virus for the past few days as the graph of the affected cases has been sharply increasing amid the lockdown and restrictions. 

203 new #COVID19 positive cases reported in Tamil Nadu, taking the total number of cases to 2526: State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2020

The state has reported about 600 positive cases in the span for four days with 85% of the cases belong to Chennai. The sudden ascent in the number of affected cases in the middle of the lockdown has let the government towards considering extending the statewide lockdown that comes to an end on May 3.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabaskar has addressed the reporters during which he put out the latest developments concerning the outbreak. According to the health minister, the state has tested 1,29,363 samples so far including 9,615 that were tested on Friday of which 203 returned positive for the virus taking the total numbers to 2,526.

According to the press release, of these 203, 117 are males while the rest are females and 176 belong to Chennai, eight belong to Chengalpattu, six belong to Tiruvallur, three belong to Madurai, two each from Thanjavur and Kancheepuram and one each from Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Karur, Nagapattinam, and Villupuram. In these 203 cases, five are under the age of 10 including a 2-year-old female child, who belongs to Chennai.

The press release stated that 33,184 are currently kept under home quarantine while 40 are admitted to the government quarantine facilities. The state has reported 54 fresh discharges taking the total number of discharges to 1,312 and it has reported a fresh fatality as a 98-year-old male had died due to the virus through which the death toll currently stands at 28. The health minister stated that the state has recorded a 1.10% mortality rate so far and asserted that the government has been strengthening the testing capabilities and preventive measures. 

At the current stage, Chennai has been witnessing surging cases despite imposing strict restrictions and lockdown. With the reporting of 176 cases, the capital currently has 1,082 positive cases - the highest number in the state which reported 2,526 cases so far and it can be learned that Chennai accounts for 43% of the total cases in the state while the government has been aiming to flatten the curve of COVID-19 affected cases.  

As of Friday evening, the state has reported 2,526 positive cases of which 1,183 are active patients, 1,312 have been discharged while 28, including the fresh fatality, had succumbed to the virus. On Friday, the Central government has announced that the nationwide lockdown has been extended for two more weeks beyond May 3 and the extended spell would come into effect on May 4 and would stay till May 17.

To read the bulletin, visit: https://stopcorona.tn.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Media-Bulletin-01.05.2020.pdf

Also read: Center has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 17 - Here's the update!