The state heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday with no fresh novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases reported but the number of people under quarantine as well as samples sent to National Institute of Virology registered a spike. As many as 3,313 people are under observation in the state now, of which 293 are admitted to various hospitals.
Coronavirus outbreak live updates
The number of positive cases in the state stands at 14 now, with seven persons admitted in Pathanamthitta, four in Kottayam and three in Kochi. Doctors are continuously monitoring an elderly couple, grandparents of the 24-year-old man who returned from Italy on February 29 along with his parents, admitted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
Health minister K K Shailaja said the state health machinery was geared up to meet any emergency. “The government has sought the Centre’s permission to increase the testing facilities for samples in the state. We need more testing centres to avoid delay in getting results as the load of samples has increased,” she said.
State seeks testing facility at T’puram
The state has sought testing facilities at Thiruvananthapuram Public Health Laboratory, Thrissur Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
In Pathanamthitta, the process of tracking of those who came into contact with the three who came back from Italy is continuing. “So far, we have quarantined 969 people. Of these, 129 are in the high-risk category and 13% of them are aged above 60,” Shailaja said.
As many as 60 persons have been identified in Kottayam as contacts of those tested positive and 131 in Ernakulam. The samples of all primary contacts are being sent and so far 1,179 samples have been sent, of which the results of 889 samples have been received. The minister said the increase in flow of passengers from Covid-19 hit countries was another matter of concern. “We received more passengers from Italy on Wednesday and we are expecting more in the coming days,” she said.
Coronavirus outbreak live updates
The number of positive cases in the state stands at 14 now, with seven persons admitted in Pathanamthitta, four in Kottayam and three in Kochi. Doctors are continuously monitoring an elderly couple, grandparents of the 24-year-old man who returned from Italy on February 29 along with his parents, admitted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
Health minister K K Shailaja said the state health machinery was geared up to meet any emergency. “The government has sought the Centre’s permission to increase the testing facilities for samples in the state. We need more testing centres to avoid delay in getting results as the load of samples has increased,” she said.
State seeks testing facility at T’puram
The state has sought testing facilities at Thiruvananthapuram Public Health Laboratory, Thrissur Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
In Pathanamthitta, the process of tracking of those who came into contact with the three who came back from Italy is continuing. “So far, we have quarantined 969 people. Of these, 129 are in the high-risk category and 13% of them are aged above 60,” Shailaja said.
As many as 60 persons have been identified in Kottayam as contacts of those tested positive and 131 in Ernakulam. The samples of all primary contacts are being sent and so far 1,179 samples have been sent, of which the results of 889 samples have been received. The minister said the increase in flow of passengers from Covid-19 hit countries was another matter of concern. “We received more passengers from Italy on Wednesday and we are expecting more in the coming days,” she said.
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