Chennai: Tamil Nadu continues to record an upward trend in new Covid-19 cases as the state on Saturday recorded 1,489 infections and eight more deaths, pushing the cumulative figures till date to 27,49,534 and 36,784 respectively, the health department said.
The new cases outpaced the number of recoveries, with 611 people being discharged in the last 24 hours. According to a bulletin issued by the health department, overall recoveries were at 27,04,410 while active cases numbered 8,340.
Also, according to the health bulletin, a total of 1,03,607 samples were tested over the last 24 hours, pushing the overall figure of samples examined to 5,75,47,850 so far.
State capital Chennai and neighbouring Chengalpet accounted for the bulk of the fresh cases, at 682 and 168 respectively. The remainder of the new cases were spread across other districts.
In what is a cause for worry for the health officials, as many as 17 districts reported new infections, albeit in single digits. Mayiladuthurai recorded no new case over the last 24 hours, the bulletin said.
Among those testing positive were 19 returnees from various countries and states, namely United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Delhi, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
The bulletin further stated that one more person tested positive for the new Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, taking the overall tally of such cases in the state to 121.
A total of 25 people were discharged on recovery from the Omicron strain over the last 24 hours, while the active cases were at 27, the bulletin said.