CHENNAI: Fresh Covid-19 infections continued to increase for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday, when hotspots Chennai and Coimbatore recorded a dip in cases.
The state recorded 1,990 fresh cases compared to 1,986 on Saturday. Despite restrictions, tourist places at Rameshwaram, Salem, Kodaikanal and the Nilgiris were overcrowded during the weekend.
On Sunday, 26 people succumbed to the infection taking the cumulative toll to 34,102 — third highest in the country after Maharashtra (1,32,948) and Karnataka (36,587). On Sunday, 2,178 were discharged from the active cases registry.
While around 1.6 lakh samples were tested on Saturday, the health authorities collected 1.58 lakh samples on Sunday.
Chennai saw a decrease in fresh cases — from 204 on Saturday to 175 people testing positive on Sunday. The city reporter 215 new cases on Friday. Against this backdrop, recognised traders’ bodies in the city urged the government to reopen nine market locations that were shut to arrest spread of infection.
In Coimbatore, daily cases have dropped marginally from 246 on Saturday to 230. Thanjavur (126 new cases), Tirupur (95) and Madurai (24) were among districts to witness increase in fresh infections. Including the 1.2 doses of vaccines administered on Sunday, Tamil Nadu has so far utilised 2.15 crore doses.
