CHENNAI: With the number of Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu on the rise, state Health Minister Ma Subramanian convened a meeting with senior health department authorities here on Friday. The conference will be attended by state health secretary Dr. J. Radhakrishnan and other senior health department officials. The Health minister said, "The number of new Covid-19 cases is on the rise, and the meeting will result in new measures to combat the uptick. Apart from getting both vaccination doses, persons must exercise caution and follow the Covid -19 recommended procedure, which includes wearing masks, social distancing, and the use of sanitizers and hand washing." The administration has already set up over 1.25 lakh beds across the state, with oxygen beds in place as well. Nearly 75percent of the 6,983 new Covid -19 cases recorded in Tamil Nadu on Thursday are from Chennai and the surrounding districts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur. While Chennai has 3,759 new cases, Chengalpattu has 816, Tiruvallur (444) and Kancheepuram (185) "There is a cascading effect of the virus reaching the neighbouring districts of Chennai," state health secretary J. Radhakrishnan told reporters. After Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur, Coimbatore and Vellore reported the next highest number of cases with 309 and 223 respectively. Odisha reports Omicron's first death, country's second report Night curfews Timing in Assam may be changed Corona Threat: Brazil registers its first Omicron death