CHENNAI: For the fourteenth consecutive day, the number of new Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu has been on the decline.
On Wednesday, a total of 1,432 people tested positive for the virus. This the lowest number of daily corona positive cases reported in the state during the second wave.
Chennai with a test positivity rate (TPR) of one percent once again had the highest number of fresh cases (176). Coimbatore with a slightly higher TPR of 1.5 % stood second with 149 new cases. Thanjavur and Krishnagiri had the highest TPR (1.8 %) in the state. However, the state's overall TPR has remained unchanged at one percent for a month.
This coupled with a steady recovery rate of 98% has helped in bringing down the number of active cases to 16,637. Three weeks ago, more than 17,000 patients were undergoing treatment.
Among these patients, only one-third required hospilation and others were treated either at covid care centres or at their homes. Health authorities attribute this to increased vaccine coverage.
As on date, 4.7crore vaccinations were recorded in Tamil Nadu. This included 1.1 lakh inoculations on Wednesday.
Around 600 village panchayats and four municipalities have achieved 100 percent vaccination against Covid-19 with at least first dose. Overall, around 64% of the population has received at least one dose and 22% have got completely vaccinated.
Health minister Ma Subramanian said the fifth mega-vaccination camp will be organised on Sunday through 30,000 special centres across the state. As on Wednesday, TN has 33 lakh vaccine doses in hand and another consignment is expected to reach this week.
"So, vaccinations will continue for next three days and by Saturday evening, we expect to have at least 25 lakh doses in hand for the mega-vaccination camp," he said. Over 87 lakh people got inoculated at the previous mega camps.
On Wednesday, 25 people succumbed to the disease thereby taking the Covid toll to 35,707.
