Chennai: Nineteen more students tested positive for novel coronavirus in IIT Madras taking the total number of cases in the cluster to 79. With the emerging cases, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin took stock of the situation at IIT Madras campus on Monday. 


The Chief Minister also reviewed the preparations for special mega vaccination camps. On May 8, the state has planned for at least one lakh vaccination camps with a target to vaccinate one crore adults including those who are due to take their second vaccination against COVID-19.


As of Monday, Tamil Nadu reported 55 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of active cases in the state to 362. The state also witnessed the discharges of 27 persons from hospitals. There were also zero deaths due to coronavirus


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The state on Monday tested 17,249 samples of 17,240 persons. 


The highest number of coronavirus cases was logged in Chennai with the city reporting 37 new cases followed by Chengalpattu with 5 cases and Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai with 3 cases each. 


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Meanwhile, Health Secretary Radhakrishnan on Sunday wrote to district Collectors urging them to ensure that symptomatic people who work in crowded places are tested for coronavirus along with their contacts. He also said that the tested persons should also remain in isolation until they receive the test results. 


Educational institutions including schools and colleges should function as per standard operating procedures (SOPs), he said.


The Health Secretary also requested the district administrations to prepare the infrastructure for handling an influx of patients if there is any surge in the infection.