City touches zero per cent growth rate, indicating hike in cases

According to the data released by the Greater Chennai Corporation, the overall average growth rate of new cases for the seven days till Sunday was at zero per cent. Among the 15 zones of the city, as many as seven zones, including Anna Nagar, Adyar and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar have registered a positive growth rate of new cases.

It may be noted that for the week ended on July 13, all the 15 zones had registered a negative growth rate of new cases and the city had registered -6.6 per cent growth rate. Positive growth rate indicates more number of COVID-19 positive cases during the week than the number of cases confirmed in the previous week.

Between July 13 to July 19, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar has been identified as worst-performing zone as the zone had registered -12.3 per cent growth rate on July 13 only to slip to 8.4 per cent growth rate on July 19. During the period, cases in the zone had increased to 6,853 from 6,182. Among the zones, Kodambakkam has the lowest growth rate with -4 per cent.

When asked, a Chennai Corporation official said that the more cases are being identified as the civic body has been increasing the number of samples tested every day. "On Sunday, we tested 14,030 samples, which is the highest testings since the outbreak," the official added.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation has removed the details of streets that have COVID-19 positive cases from its official website without citing any reason. As on Monday, there were 188 containment zones in the city, of which Kodambakkam zone alone had 124 containment zones.