241 corona deaths reported in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The number of deaths due to COVID-19 took a massive leap on Saturday, with Tamil Nadu adding 241 fatalities - the highest recorded by the State so far. Among the deaths notified in the State Health Department bulletin on Saturday, there were many from earlier this month and even from the last week of April. Chennai recorded the highest with 72 deaths, followed by Tiruvallur (17), Kancheepuram (14), Tiruchy (12), Tirupattur (11), and Chengalpattu and Salem (10).

CHENNAI: A day after Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the State will no more hide its COVID-19 fatalities, Tamil Nadu on Saturday notified 241 deaths, including some that happened earlier this month. Also, the State reported its biggest single-day spike of COVID-19 cases with 27,397 infections, taking the tally to 13.51 lakh.

The state touched the new high just a day after logging a record 26,465 cases and 197 deaths.

Of the deaths notified on Saturday, many were from last week. The death toll due to COVID-19 in the State now stands at 15,412.

Among the 241 deceased, 61 did not have any comorbidities, mainly as they succumbed to COVID-19 pneumonia after developing fever, cough, difficulty in breathing or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Of the 241 deaths, 90 deaths were reported in private hospitals and 151 in government hospitals. Chennai reported a total of 72 deaths due to COVID-19.

As many as 23,110 people were discharged on Saturday, taking the tally to 11,96,549, leaving 1,39,401 active cases.

Chennai accounted for the most number of new infections at 6,846, totalling 3,83,644 to date, and also fatalities, which now stands at 5,153.

A total of 1,55,998 samples were tested on Saturday, taking the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 2,38,54,797.

Besides Chennai, Chengalpet added 2,458 cases, Coimbatore 2,117 Tiruvallur 1,284 and Madurai 1,217.

Thirty-one districts reported new cases in triple digits, among which were Kancheepuram 906, Thanjavur 857, Thootukudi 853 and Tiruchirappalli 820.

As many as 13 people who tested positive on Saturday were returnees from various destinations.

Of the deaths notified, many were from last week. The ‘singleday’ spike comes even as CM Stalin clarified that State will not hide COVID fatalities