COVID-19: Tamil Nadu reports 508 new cases, CM points to high testing

Tamil Nadu recorded 508 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday (May 5), taking the total to 4,058, with 33 deaths and 2,537 active cases.

Explaining the spike in COVID-19 positive cases, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Tuesday said, “Chennai is a densely-populated city and around 12,000 people are tested every day for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu. This is why the number of positive cases in the state has been shooting up.”

He assured people that there was no reason to panic or worry, and that the number of people who are recovering from the disease has been increasing steadily.

Palaniswami, while addressing a press conference, said rations including rice, dal, sugar, and cooking oil will be supplied to people free of cost until the end of June owing to the COVID-19 lockdown.

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Speaking about the transport facilities made available for migrants, he said those who wish to stay here could do so since the industries have reopened.

“Those who wish to go back can express their wish, and officials will come to them and register them, after which, while maintaining social distancing they will be moved, step by step, over a week,” he said.

“We cannot transport all of them at the same time, since there are more than 40,000 migrant workers in Tamil Nadu at the moment, and transporting all of them at the same time will be difficult,” he added.

He stressed on the importance of maintaining basic hygiene, washing hands frequently, and following social distancing while stepping out.

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He also gave a brief on the measures being taken to control the spread of the disease and said more than 4,000 beds in hospitals at Chennai have been kept ready.

“At least 50 testing centres have been set up across the state,” he said.

He added that roads and other public places are regularly being disinfected.

He also said the state-run Amma canteens have been serving food to lakhs of people every day.