Tamil Nadu Sees Highest COVID Cases In India: How Chaotic Planning Led To Surge In Cases

Tamil Nadu recorded 34,867 positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday, highest in the country in 24 hours. It brought the state tally to 18,77,211. This comes after the state government allowed all stand-alone shops, except malls, to function till 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday. This was essentially done to help the people stock up on essential services and travel to their hometowns ahead of the fresh lockdown.

BCCL

Rush ahead of lockdown led to surge

This led to massive crowd build-up across marketplaces and various shopping areas with a total lack of social distancing even as Covid continues to lurk. The Tamil Nadu government also allowed public and private long-distance buses to operate on these two days.

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The government on Saturday extended the ongoing lockdown for a week, starting May 24 with more stringent measures to curtail the spread of the deadly infection. Tamil Nadu has been under complete lockdown since May 10. The extension of the lockdown in the state will see no relaxation, with only emergency services allowed to function during the period. The current lockdown in the state comes to an end on the morning of May 24.

What's allowed, what's not

The stringent lockdown is being enforced on the recommendations of an expert medical team and the representatives of legislature parties. During the lockdown, medical shops, including indigenous medicine shops and veterinary pharmacies, will function. Supply of milk and water, distribution of newspapers and functioning of media organisations will remain uninterrupted.

BCCL

All shops will be shut and groceries to be sold through mobile vehicles in coordination with local bodies. E-commerce is allowed between 8 am to 6 pm. Inter-district movement on medical grounds and deaths have been allowed upon ¡®e-registration. Intra-district movement on medical grounds need not register.

COVID numbers

Among the total number of cases in the state, Chennai reported 4,985 positive cases, bringing the city¡¯s total to 4,83,757. The state recorded 404 deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 20,872. 301 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 27,026 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 15,54,759.

PTI

A total of 18,59,255 people have been vaccinated in Chennai till date, with 23,241 people inoculated on Monday alone, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).