<span style="color: #222222;">In Tamil Nadu, 161 more people have been tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total to 2323. 138 of the new cases are in Chennai. 48 others have been discharged after recovery. There is no report of any death due to the disease in the last 24-hours, leaving the death toll at 27. The number of samples tested today has soared to a new high at 9787.  <br />''<br />''Meanwhile, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy today consulted the medical and epidemiological experts reportedly to decide on the lockdown. AIR correspondent reports that 161 is one of the single largest count of new Covid-19 patients in a day in Tamil Nadu since the outbreak of the pandemic. The medical experts and epidemiologists who are part of the team formed by the state government to advice on the lockdown have favoured relaxing the restrictions in a staggered manner after May 3rd rather than going for an outright opening up. They have also recommended making it mandatory for the doctors practicing privately also to wear personal protective equipment while treating their patients as there is no way to distinguish between a normal fever case and a COVID-19 case. </span><br />