Mortality rate in TN at 1.1 pc: Min

Addressing the media on the status of the COVID-19 cases in the State, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said that the mortality rate due to COVID-19 in the State is 1.1 percent, while the recovery rate and clinical management has been appreciated by the Indian Council of Medical Research. He added that 85 patients were discharged on Saturday, taking the total number of patients cured of COVID-19 to 365 in the State.

The State Health department has begun testing of the suspected cases through rapid testing kits in the hospitals, which are followed by confirmatory PCR tests if required. Tamil Nadu has received 24,000 rapid testing kits through Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) and 12,000 rapid testing kits from the Centre.

"The State had placed an order of three lakh rapid testing kits through Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation. The other set of kits will arrive in the next consignment," said managing director of TNMSC, Dr P Umanath. He also added that the State has bought the kits at the price fixed by the Centre. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami also had said that the State had asked for 50,000 more kits to enhance the process.

The government also received approval for three more testing facilities on Saturday and currently has 31 testing facilities in the State, including 10 private and 21 government testing facilities. So far, 29,997 people have been tested in the State and the samples of 5,039 individuals were tested again. Currently, 1,433 samples are under process.