This story is from June 30, 2020

62 Covid deaths push Tamil Nadu toll to 1,141; doubling time falls to 14 days

Fresh Covid-19 infections in TN were close to 4,000 for the second day on Monday, which saw 62 deaths pushing the toll to 1,141. As the disease spread into the districts, the case doubling time dropped to 14 days for Tamil Nadu from 17 days on June 20, though a bigger worry for the state is the rapidly dropping doubling time for deaths.
62 Covid deaths push Tamil Nadu toll to 1,141; doubling time falls to 14 days
Health workers and volunteers from SDPI wearing PPE kits after performing the burial of a person who died due to Covid-19 in Chennai. (PTI photo)
CHENNAI: Fresh Covid-19 infections in TN were close to 4,000 for the second day on Monday, which saw 62 deaths pushing the toll to 1,141. As the disease spread into the districts, the case doubling time dropped to 14 days for Tamil Nadu from 17 days on June 20, though a bigger worry for the state is the rapidly dropping doubling time for deaths.
In June, the state recorded 947 deaths, excluding the 200 deaths in Chennai yet to be added to the official toll.
Statistics released by the state health department show that Covid deaths in TN have been doubling in 10-11 days. The state had about 125 deaths on May 26 and in the next 11 days, on June 6, the state had more than 250 deaths. By June 16, there were 250 deaths and in the next 11 days, the number crossed 1,000.
“We are now beginning to see a spike in deaths in districts. If we don’t contain the disease, it could increase. The only effective way to do this is to increase diagnosis and initiate early treatment,” said former city health officer Dr P Kuganandam.
Chennai on Monday recorded 2,167 cases and its three neighbouring districts had a total of 416 cases – Chengalpet (187), Kancheepuram (75) and Tiruvallur (154). Madurai recorded 303 cases and Vellore logged 144. While four districts -- Dharmapuri, Ariyalur, Namakkal and Perumbalur – had no fresh cases, five others (Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, Tenkasi, Ranipet and Karur) recorded cases in single digits. Those who tested positive included 108 people who returned to the state from other states and abroad.
While the total Covid tally rose to 86,224, the actual number of people under treatment in hospitals, Covid care centres and home quarantine was 37,331, including 21,681 people in Chennai.
Of the 62 deaths, 34 were in Chennai and its three neighbours logged 13 more deaths – Chengalpet (7), Tiruvallur (5) and Kancheepuram (1). Among other districts, Madurai had four and Ramanathapuram had two. Erode, Pudukottai, Kallakuruchi, Virudunagar and Tirunelveli had one death each. The youngest victim was a 13-year-old boy from Pudukottai with an autoimmune condition that causes skin changes and muscle weakness, who died at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital on June 27.

Analysis released by the state health department showed that about 58% of the people who died until now were above the age of 60 and there were about 34% of them between the age group of 41 and 60. “The most common co-morbid conditions seen among the deceased is a combination of diabetes and hypertension,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan. At least 36% of the people had a combination of these diseases, while 22% of them had diabetes and 12% of them had hypertension. About 18% of the patients had no comorbidities.
A total of 2,212 patients were discharged on Monday. It takes the total number of discharged patients to 47,749.
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