Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami denies community transmission even as cases soar

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday vehemently denied that community transmission of coronavirus had started and urged the media to dispel the rumours.

On Friday, 4538 new infections were added to the state coronavirus tally, with Chennai accounting for 1243 cases and the total number of deaths stood at 79.

Speaking to media persons at Erode, Palaniswami also denied that there was any plan to extend the lockdown.

In Chennai, testing for COVID-19 antibodies that began at the Corporation office on Thursday led to the identification of 28 persons who might have been infected by the virus. They would undergo an ST-PCR test and then isolated, Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said.

A total of 564 persons were tested on the first day. Out of them, 452 were found to have no infection, while 84 others were found to have developed immunity against coronavirus.

Though the rate of infection in Chennai had come down, some districts continued to report high numbers. They were: Coimbatore 141, Dindigul 163, Kancheepuram 110, Kanyakumari 151, Madurai 263, Thanjavur 117, Theni 175, Thiruvallur 220, Thiruvannamali 145, Thoothukudi 189, Tirunelveli 119, Tiruchi 100, Vellore 183, Villupuram 113 and Virudhunagar 196.