State clocks 811 new virus cases, 11 fatalities

With Chennai recording 228 fresh cases, the total number of cases recorded touched 8,23,181. The total number of active cases in the State currently stands at 7,665, with Chennai having 2,327 active cases.Around 2,146 passengers that travelled from the UK to Chennai have been tested as of Tuesday, of which 24 have tested positive for COVID-19.

Tracing of the remaining travellers, with an approximation of 2,300 total passengers that have travelled to the city between November 25 and December 23, is underway. Positive patients and their contacts are being kept in separate isolation wards.In the districts, Coimbatore saw 87 fresh cases, with Chengalpattu recording 47 cases and Salem recording 44 cases. Tiruvallur had 36 cases, and Vellore had 32 cases. Fourteen districts added new cases in single digits.

Of the 11 reported deaths, five were recorded at private hospitals and six were recorded at government healthcare facilities. Two of the total cases did not have pre-existing comorbid conditions. With Wednesday’s count, the total number of deaths went up to 12,188. Of the 37 districts, 31 districts reported zero deaths in the last 24 hours.

Nearly 943 patients were discharged following treatment, bringing the total number of recoveries in the State to 8,03,328. A total of 63,582 samples were taken across 242 private and public testing facilities, bringing the total number of samples taken so far to 1,45,66,511. Health secretary J Radhakrishnan said the government would conduct a COVID-19 vaccination dry run on January 8 in all the districts unlike the earlier one which was held in five districts. ”The Chief Minister issued orders to take up measures on war-footing for the dry run and all the district collectors are engaged in taking necessary steps to conduct it in their respective districts,” he said.