Only isolated Covid cases, no clusters reported in Tamil Nadu yet: DPH

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu added 11 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday – a drop from 29 cases it reported on Sunday – which pushed the active cases tally in the state to 139. There were no deaths due to the viral infection on Monday.
“There are isolated cases reported from different parts of the state. However, we have not seen large clusters in workplaces, apartment complexes or communities yet,” said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam.The samples of Covid positive patients have been given to the public health laboratory for whole genome sequencing and the results are expected in a couple of days. “We don’t yet know if the new subvariant JN.1 is causing the surge in TN,” he said. Hospitals across the state have reported a spike in fever cases particularly H1N1, H3N2, and respiratory disorders caused by several viruses. In addition, at least 50 dengue cases are reported every day. Testing for Covid-19 is done only in people hospitalised with severe respiratory illness.
On Monday, of the 139 active cases, 69 of them were from Chennai. Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur had nine, three and seven cases respectively. While Thiruvarur had 14 active cases, Coimbatore reported seven, and Krishnagiri and Vellore had five cases each. At least four patients were discharged from the state registry on Sunday.