3 Tamil Nadu docs test positive

“Among the three doctors who have been infected, two are from Thoothukudi and one from Kanniyakumari,” Dr Rajesh told reporters here on Tuesday. Thoothukudi district health officials said that the two doctors who tested positive were from Kayalpattinam and Pichivilai. However, Kanniyakumari district officials denied that any doctor in the district had tested positive so far. “He could have been from Kanniyakumari but could be working elsewhere,” said a top district official.

Even as health care personnel are getting infected with the virus, senior officials at the office of Director of Public Health claimed there was no shortage of PPE kits.

A 64-year-old woman died at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital due to COVID-19. “The deceased was brought in a critical state and had diabetes and hypertension. She was put on emergency treatment but did not respond,” the Health Secretary said. The source of infection is not yet confirmed but three family members have been put under quarantine.

Of the 69 new cases, 63 are from the single cluster source. While one has interstate travel history, another has contact history with an individual who returned from abroad. “The contact histories of the rest have not been found yet,” a health official said. The highest number of 39 positive cases were reported in Chennai on Tuesday taking the total number to 149 in the city. Later in the day, Vellore district officials confirmed the first COVID death in the district. “Sadhiq Basha (45), who was admitted at CMC died on Tuesday. His samples tested positive,” a release stated. However, DPH officials here refused to confirm that the death was due to COVID-19.