Chennai: The number of corona positive cases in Tamilnadu nearly doubled in 24 hours, recording an all time high of 527 cases on Monday, taking the tally past the 3,500 mark, even as the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 31.
A bullet in issued by the Health and Family Welfare department said one person, who tested positive, died taking the toll to 31.
The total number of cases doubled in the last ten days increasing from 1,755 on April 24 to 3,550 today, which was about 2.3 per cent of the total samples tested till date.
On a single day count, the number of cases also nearly doubled to 527 (327 men and 150 women) when compared to 266 cases Sunday, as a total of 3,550 people have tested positive so far, including 2,392 men, 1,157 women and one transperson.
The release said a majority of the cases were linked to the single largest cluster — Koyambedu Wholesale vegetable market in the city, from where the number of those testing positive continued to be on the upswing for the last couple of days.
Of the 527 cases Monday, Chennai topped with 266 positive cases (again a single day high) and most of them were linked to Koyambedu market, taking the city’s corona tally to 1,724.
While 122 people, who visited the market, tested positive in Cuddalore, 49 tested in Villuupuram and 25 in Perambalur, Dindugul-10 and Tiruvannamlai-11.
Positive cases linked to Koyambedu market were also reported in Ariyalur, Kancheepuram, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur prompting the authorities to temporarily close down the market, which cater to the daily vegetable needs of tens and hundreds of retailers in Chennai city, suburbs and adjoining districts, from
tomorrow.
Sources said that the decision to shut the market was taken by the Market Administrative committee, as it has emerged as the hotspot for corona cases.
It is now said the market would be temporarily shifted to Thirumazhisai on the outskirts of the city. But, if necessary precautions are not taken and crowds are allowed to gather, Thirumazhisai would become another Koyambedu, it is feared.