<span style="color: #222222;">The Tamil Nadu government has started taking steps to utilize effectively, the services of ex servicemen for security work connected with the control of Covid 19 pandemic. Under the scheme, various district administrations have issued letters to ex servicemen associations and welfare organisations, inviting their services. The government has clarified that the services of former armed forces personnel, below the age of 62, alone will be utilised.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, the fresh cases of Covid-19 disease have been the month's second lowest yesterday. The state health minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar told reporters in Chennai last evening that 38 new cases have been recorded in the state. The lowest ever record this month is 31 new cases on Thursday. The minister said the mortality rate due to the disease remains at 1.1 percent showing the efficiency of the clinical management system.<br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports that in Tamil Nadu, the number of new Covid-19 cases yesterday has almost equaled the number of discharged patients, bringing the active caseload considerably less as against the total figure of 1242 infected patients. Senior IAS and IPS officials have been deployed by the state government as special officers in all districts to supervise the disease containment activities. The number of Walk-in Sample Kiosks WISKs are also ever on the rise to broadbase testing. Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who are at the forefront in the fight against the elusive virus have come in for praise from all quarters.</span><br />