One dead, 60 discharged, 64 newly-infected in TN

Tamil Nadu on Sunday reported 64 persons testing positive for coronavirus and the death of one person due to Covid-19, said the state Health Department.

The department also said 60 Covid-19 patients were discharged on Sunday taking the total number of discharged patients to 1,020.

In a statement issued here, the Health Department said a 42-year old male breathed his last at a private hospital on Saturday evening taking the Covid-19 death toll to 24.

According to the statement 64 persons (39 male and 25 female) tested positive in the state taking the total tally of positive cases to 1,885 (1,279 male, 606 female).

Included in the list of positive cases on Sunday were 8 children aged less than 15. A total of 110 children (59 male, 51 female) in the age group of 0-12 have been infected in the state till date.

Chennai topped the list of new infections at 28 followed by Madurai district with 15 cases. The Health Department said a total of 7,495 samples were tested on Sunday.

Meanwhile the central government official team inspected the Koyambedu Vegetable Market here and took stock of the anti-coronavirus spread preventive measures.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami announced free zinc and multi-vitamin tablets for government officials who are on Covid-19 field duty to boost their immunity.

Palaniswami said masks, personal protective equipment are given to officials of revenue, health, police and others who are on Covid-19 field duty.

In order to improve their immunity, zinc and multi-vitamin tablets will be provided free of cost for 10 days from Monday onwards, Palaniswami said.

The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday said it has passed an ordinance whereby those who block the decent burial/cremation of bodies of persons who had died due to notified diseases will be punished under Tamil Nadu Public Health Act.

Such punishable offence would attract a fine, jail term of minimum one year and a maximum of three years.

The ordinance has been passed after people started blocking burial/cremation of Covid-19 patients fearing spread of coronavirus in their locality.