Chennai, Apr 16 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Thursday said the number of persons testing positive for coronavirus seems to be coming down as just 25 tested positive in the last 24 hours.
The number of persons who lost their lives due to Covid-19 in the state stands at 15 and the number of patients discharged is at 180, he said.
Palaniswami also said the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have 38 members in the Lok Sabha and they have to pressurise the Central government to release relief funds for the state.
With the 25 new cases, the total number of persons infected with coronavirus was 1,267, he said, adding that the number of persons testing positive for coronavirus infection in the state is coming down due to the actions taken by the state government.
Palaniswami claimed that it was only the wealthy people who returned to India from overseas who have transmitted the coronavirus here.
Queried about the industries that would be allowed to restart, Palaniswami said the Central government has given only a tentative list. He said the state government has formed a committee which would interact with the Central government to decide on the industries that are to be allowed to restart.
Palaniswami said from April 20 onwards, food industries and MNREGA work would be restarted which would provide employment opportunities for the poor.
According to him, the government has spoken to some perfume manufacturers to source the flowers from the farmers.
Queried about the relief funds from the Central government, Palaniswami said he had stressed that issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the video conference and the later has assured release of funds.
Flaying the opposition parties in the state, Palaniswami asked whether the 38 Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu pressurised the Central government to release funds for Coronavirus relief.
Noting that the Lok Sabha members are in a position to question the Central government, Palaniswami charged DMK President M.K. Stalin of politicking in pandemics.