The state of Tamil Nadu has reported 580 fresh cases that were tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Thursday through which the state has crossed 5000 cases by reporting 5,409 cases so far including the active, discharged, and deceased patients.

The current reporting has been recorded as one of the highest single-day rises in the state which has been witnessing the sharpest increase in the total number of cases amid the lockdown and restrictions. For the past ten days, the state had recorded at least 3000 cases with an average of 300 per day alarming the government and people to strengthen the preventive measures. 

According to the official press release issued by the state health department, Tamil Nadu has tested 2,02,436 samples so far including 14,195 that were tested on Thursday of which 580 returned positive taking the total number of affected cases to 5,409. Thursday's testing of 14,195 samples had marked as the highest single-day testing by the state. 

580 more #COVID19 positive cases & 2 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu today. The total number of cases in the state is at 5409, including 37 deaths. A large number of today's cases are linked to the Koyambedu market (Chennai): State Health Department pic.twitter.com/j8bAAwBh1z

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020

According to the press release, of these 580 cases, 410 are males and the rest 170 are female patients and 316 belong to Chennai, 63 belong to Tiruvallur, 45 belong to Villupuram, 33 belong to Perambalur, 32 belong to Cuddalore, 24 belong to Ariyalur, 17 belong to Tiruvannamalai, 13 belong to Chengalpattu, seven belong to Ranipet, five belong to Trichy, four belong to Krishnagiri, three each from Theni and Tirunelveli, two each from Kancheepuram, Karur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Tirupattur, and one each from Vellore, Thoothukudi, and Kallakurichi.

The press release stated that 16 of 580 cases are under the age of 10 including a one-year-old child. The state has reported 31 fresh discharges taking the total number of discharges to 1,547 so far while it also has recorded two fresh fatalities through which the death toll currently stands at 37. A 56-year-old female had died due to the virus in Kilpauk Medical college hospital and a 48-year-old female had succumbed to the infection at the Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Chennai. 

The press release revealed that most of the cases reported on Thursday are linked to the Koyambedu cluster, which has emerged as the state's fresh epicenter for the COVID-19 spread and this cluster has accounted for more cases reported in the past few days.  On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu has reported 711 fresh cases which had been recorded as the highest single-day rise in the state since the outbreak. 

Chennai remains to be the hotspot in Tamil Nadu as it has been witnessing soaring cases amid the lockdown. With the current numbers, Chennai has reported 2,644 cases so far- the highest in the state and it has accounted for about 50% of the total affected cases in the state. Chennai's reporting is nearly five-time higher than the total number of cases the entire state of Kerala has reported so far.

By this time on April 23, Tamil Nadu had 908 active cases and now the state has 3,822 active cases which exemplifies the sharpest rise amid the efforts taken by the government to flatten the curve of COVID-19 affected cases. As of Thursday evening, the state has reported 5,409 positive cases of which 3,822 are active, 1,547 have been discharged, and 37 had succumbed to the virus. Tamil Nadu is the fourth state in India to cross 5000 cases after Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi.

To read the press release, visit: https://stopcorona.tn.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Media-Bulletin-07-05-20-COVID-19-6-PM.pdf