The state of Tamil Nadu has reported 2,141 fresh cases that were tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Thursday contributing the state to cross the tally of 52,000 by reporting 52,334 so far including active, recovered, and deceased patients. 

The current reporting has become one of the highest single-day spikes recorded by the state and Tamil Nadu has reported more than 2000 fresh cases for the second consecutive day. According to the press release issued by the state health department, Tamil Nadu has tested 8,00,443 samples including 26,736 samples that were tested on Thursday of which 2,141 returned positive.

Tamil Nadu reports 2141 new #COVID19 positive cases, taking the total number of positive cases to 52,334. Death toll is at 625 after 49 deaths were reported today: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/WDJLEw9gbl

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020

These 2,141 cases include 50 people who returned to Tamil Nadu from other regions through various transportation channels including road, rail, and air. 23 people came from Maharashtra, six each from Qatar and Delhi, three each from Kerala and Gujarat, two each from Singapore, Maldives, and Rajasthan and one each from Assam, Goa, and Pondicherry. 

Of these 2,141 cases, 1,280 are males while the rest 861 are female patients, and the heavy caseloads from Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu, and Thiruvallur had largely contributed in the sharpest spike of cases. The press release stated that 1,373 cases belong to Chennai, 123 belong to Thiruvallur, 115 belong to Chengalpattu, and 55 cases belong to Kancheepuram, as these four adjacent districts have become the most affected districts in the state.

The state has reported 1,017 fresh discharges through which the total discharges count stands at 28,641 so far, which is higher than the active COVID-19 cases in the state. The state has also recorded 49 fresh deaths taking the death toll to 625 and Tamil Nadu is the fourth state in India to report more COVID-19 deaths after Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat. 

Must read: 12 days of lockdown and 8 measures of TN Govt: How it aims to contain the spread?

According to the press release, 36 deaths of the total 49 reported from the government hospitals while the rest were reported at the private establishments. Of these 49 deaths, 40 belong to Chennai and of the remaining nine, five belong to Chengalpattu and one each from Thiruvallur, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Thiruvannamalai. 

42 out of 49 deaths had reported with co-morbid conditions as people with comorbidities have become more vulnerable along with the geriatric populace. By this time on June 12, the state had recorded the death toll of 367 and in the span of seven days, the state has added about 250 deaths to its count with sharp contribution from people with comorbidities. 

Chennai has crossed the tally of 37,000 and with the current reporting of 1,373 cases, the city's tally currently stands at 37,070 with significant contribution to the state's tally in the active cases, discharges, and deaths. The state has recorded the second-highest single-day rise exactly a day prior to the commencement of the 12-day lockdown imposed by the government in Chennai and its three adjacent districts from June 19 to June 30.

As of Thursday evening, the state has reported 52,334 positive cases so far -second highest in India after Maharashtra, of which 23,065 are active - including isolation, 28,641 have been discharged, and 626 had succumbed to the virus. Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Chengalpattu account for 80% of the active cases in the state.

To read the press release, visit: https://stopcorona.tn.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Media-Bulletin-18.06.2020-19-Pages-English-425.2-KB.pdf

Must read: 

12 days lockdown in Chennai: TN Govt eyes for a strict lockdown - What to note?  

COVID-19 in Chennai: Why the city needs more testing to curb the spread?