The number of COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu has crossed the 6,000 mark, with the confirmation of six hundred cases yesterday. Chennai accounts for a little over fifty per cent of the total case load. Three people died of the disease in the last 24-hours raising the fatalities to 40.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has ordered the closure of the liquor retail shops being run by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, TASMAC. The outlets were opened by the State Government last Thursday to boost its revenue. However, they have been asked to close down for violation of safety measures like social distancing. The court has permitted online sale of alcohol by following safety measures.

AIR correspondent reports that the Koyambedu Wholesale Market in Chennai has emerged as a major COVID-19 infection cluster. Many workers in the market dispersed to different parts of the state where they have been traced and quarantined by the District Administrations, besides testing them and their contacts. The market has been sealed and efforts are on to shift it to the city suburb Thirumazhisai positively from Sunday.

The State Health Minister claims the fatality rate due to the pandemic remains well under control at 0.68 per cent, which he said was appreciated by the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan during his interaction yesterday. Meanwhile, 753 asymptomatic patients have been accommodated in the COVID-19 Care Centres established in the city educational institutions. Those infected people having separate room and washroom in their houses are allowed to stay in their homes by following the safety protocols.

Inputs AIR