After 51 days, the number of fresh COVID-19 cases fell below 1,000, to 949, during the third wave in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. On December 31, the State reported 1,155 fresh cases, indicating the start of the third wave.
So far, 34,44,929 persons have been infected, according to the daily bulletin issued by the Directorate of Public Health. As many as 15,938 persons are under treatment, either at home or at hospitals.
Although there has been a significant drop in fresh infections, Chennai continued to lead the table with 223 cases. The district did not report any death. As many as 2,987 persons are under treatment in the district where 7,48,811 persons have contracted the infection and 7,36,768 have recovered. So far, 9,056 persons have succumbed to the infection.
Coimbatore came a close second with 136 fresh infections and the recovery of 532 patients. In the district, 2,375 persons are under treatment.
In 16 of the 38 districts, fresh cases were in single digit, with Perambalur and Tirupattur reporting just one case each. Ariyalur and Mayiladuthurai reported two cases each.
The State reported three deaths, owing to their pre-existing health conditions. Two persons under treatment at private hospitals and a 69-year-old man with multiple co-morbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and pulmonary tuberculosis, succumbed to the infection.
The man, treated at Government Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital, succumbed to the infection on Friday. So far, 37,980 persons have died.
The Health Department discharged 3,172 more persons, pushing the number of those who recovered from the infection to 33,91,011.
Vaccination update
At 1,774 sessions, 62 healthcare workers; 65 frontline workers; and 532 beneficiaries aged 15-18 were vaccinated. As many as 6,211 persons aged 18-44 and 2,438 persons in the 45-59 age group were also vaccinated. As many as 10,893 persons, including 1,585 senior citizens, were vaccinated, bringing up the total number of persons vaccinated to 9,58,91,166.
