Chennai, Jun 15 (IANS): As many as 1,843 persons tested positive for coronavirus over the past 24 hours in Tamil Nadu while another 44 fatalities were reported, the state Health Department said on Monday.

In a statement issued here, the department said that the total tally has now risen to 46,504, while the latest fatalities have taken the total death toll to 479.

The number of Covid-19 cured persons discharged from various hospitals on Monday was 797, taking their total tally to 25,344.

The total number of active cases in the state stands at 20,678.

The number of infected children in the state in the age group 0-12 went up to 2,362.

Chennai continued to head the Covid-19 infection table with 1,257 persons testing positive for the virus and the total tally stands at 33,244. With coronavirus infection going up in Chennai, as well as Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Monday announced full lockdown in these areas from June 19 to 30.

Meanwhile, members of a medical expert committee on Monday said that the coronavirus infection in the state is at its peak and will come down in the coming days.

Members of the committee, set up by the state government some time back to advise it on the spread of the coronavirus, met Chief Minister Palaniswami to discuss the increasing coronavirus infection rate in the state.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the members said the coronavirus infection is at its peak in Tamil Nadu and the infection numbers will come down now. They also said there are possibilities of the infection rate going up again after three months.

The experts said the public should not lower their guard, but continue to be cautious by following safety measures like wearing masks and others.