Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal has on Friday tested positive for the Covid-19 viral infection and he has isolated himself at his residence. The Chief of Greater Chennai Police has also appealed to his close contacts to get tested to ascertain whether they have contracted the pandemic. 

It is the second time that Shankar Jiwal has tested positive for the pandemic. Earlier, he has tested positive last year. Recently, he had shown mild symptoms after which he got tested. The result has confirmed that he has contracted the pandemic, warranting to go for self-isolation at the high time of leading the city's police force in enforcing the restrictions and guidelines. 

Several frontline workers have been testing positive for the pandemic amid the third wave. Earlier this month, a handful of police officers in the city and across Tamil Nadu have tested positive in a single day, causing a cluster. As Shankar Jiwal is home locked after testing positive, several police officers have been expressing their wishes to him for a speedy recovery. 

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is all set for the new phase of restrictions that were announced by the government on Thursday. In a huge upliftment of curbs, the state government has completely lifted the night curfews from 10 pm to 5 am and the Sunday lockdowns. Along with that, as speculated, the government has announced that the schools will be reopened for all the classes from February 1. 

According to the state health department, Tamil Nadu has reported 28,515 fresh Covid cases, 28,620 discharges, and 53 deaths on Thursday - January 27. Overall, the state has recorded 32,52,751 Covid cases so far as of Thursday of which 2,13,534 are active, 30,01,805 were recovered, and 37,412 had succumbed to the viral infection.