Tamil Nadu reports 817 new positive COVID-19 cases, death toll rises to 133

Chennai: Six more COVID-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu took the death toll on Wednesday to 133.

Four persons in Chennai and one each in Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu succumbed to the disease in the state where a substantial number of health workers are undergoing treatment for the disease.

The state on Wednesday recorded 817 fresh cases of COVID-19 taking the total tally to 18,545 cases.

The active cases as on date is 8,503 after the recovery of 9,909 persons and 133 deaths. The recovery of 567 persons has been reported today.

Two inmates in Cuddalore central prison, 1 in Tiruchy and 5 in Madurai tested positive for the disease.

Migrant workers laid seige to a police station in Sivaganga district demanding to arrange transport facility to help them return to their native places. They dispersed after authorities assured them of suitable action within two days.

Nokia on Tuesday announced it has suspended operations at a Nokia Solutions and Networks India (telecoms gear manufacturing) plant in Oragadam near Chennai last week after several employees (exact number undisclosed) in the plant tested positive for COVID-19, sources said.

Nokia spokesperson reportedly said the safety of employees is the company's key priority.

"We had been operating at a highly-restrticted level for the past few weeks. We had promptly suspended operation last week to ensure safety of our staff. We have undertaken further fumigation and sanitization activities, and hope to resume operations soon," he said.

Three of Hyundai's employees in its Sriperumbudur plant tested positive for COVID-19 recently. Hyundai commenced operations on May 8.

Several employees at the Ambattur industrial estate have also tested positive for the virus, say sources.