Tamil nadu imposes complete lockdown in madurai and neighbouring areas as state sees 2710 cases

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced the expansion of the complete lockdown in the jurisdiction of Madurai Corporation limits, Paravai Town Panchayat and rural blocks of

Madurai east, Madurai west and Thiruparankundram from Tuesday till the end of the month.This comes as the State reported the highest-ever single-day spike in cases with a whopping 2710 fresh

cases being reported in the State. Last Friday, four districts, including the State capital Chennai, went into a complete lockdown to curb the spread of the infection. Even in these areas,

shops to be open from 6 am to 2 pm and people will be allowed to buy essential items. However, there will be a complete lockdown in on Sunday. While testing too has been at an all-time high

in the State, the number of cases has been increasing at an alarming rate. This takes the State's total tally to 62,087, the State's media bulletin confirmed. This also marks the

sixth consecutive day that the state has reported more than 2,000 new single-day virus cases. As many as 37 new Covid-19 deaths were reported on Monday. This takes the total recoveries in

the state to 794. A total of 34,112 patients have been discharged so far with 1,358 recovering on Monday alone. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday clarified that extending the

lockdown after June 30 was not on the cards.The 12-day lockdown, which came into effect on Friday, is being implemented in Chennai and in parts of neighbouring Chengelpet, Kancheepuram and

Tiruvallur. Only essential services are allowed.Chennai, which is the worst affected district has seen 42,752 cases of the infection with 1487 being reported on Sunday alone. The city also

accounts for 623 of the total deaths in the State.*TN CM tests negative for Covid-19* In a separate development, the Health Minister C Vijayabaskar on Monday confirmed that Chief Minister

Palaniswami tested negative for the infection.