13 new cases in state, nine in Kasaragod

TNN | Apr 7, 2020, 04:21 IST

Thiruvananthapuram: More Covid-19 cases are being reported from Kasaragod, with nine more persons testing positive on Monday. The total number of patients in the district now stands at 128. The total number of Covid-19 patients in state rose to 266 and 1,52, 804 are presently under observation; 795 in isolation wards. On Monday alone 122 people were hospitalised with symptoms. Of the 10,716 samples that were sent for testing, 9,607 samples tested negative. Thirteen positive cases were reported in Kerala on Monday, of which two had attended the Nizamuddin meet.
Apart from the nine cases in Kasaragod, the other cases were reported from Malappuram (2), Kollam (1) and Pathanamthitta (1). Of this, eight people came from abroad [Kasaragod (6), Malappuram (1) and Pathanamthitta (1)]; three are direct contacts. The person who tested positive in Pathanamthitta is a 60-year-old who arrived from Dubai. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Covid special hospital in Kasaragod has started functioning and it would cater to the healthcare needs of the patients there. The expert team from Thiruvananthapuram has reached the district and taken over the medical college which has become the Covid special hospital.
In Kasaragod, Tata group has informed the government that it will set up a facility that can quarantine 450 persons. An expert team from the group will be reaching the district on Tuesday. Vijayan said that to meet an emergency, 10,813 isolation beds are ready in state and in 517 corona care centres 17,461 isolation beds are ready. At present, 38 corona care centres are functioning in the state.
A decision on conducting rapid tests in the community will be taken in a day or two and the expert committee is preparing guidelines for the same. The tests, which were conducted in Pothencode in Thiruvananthapuram, were not conventional rapid antibody tests, said Vijayan.
Karnataka government has agreed to allow patients (other than those with Covid-19 symptoms) to go to Mangaluru through Thalappady checkpost. However, a medical team from Karnataka will be stationed at the checkpost to certify patients.
The chief minister expressed concern over Malayali nurses contracting Covid-19 in Maharashtra and Delhi as they are working in an environment without protective gear. A decision was taken to contact the chief ministers of both states and express Kerala’s concern. Already, the Prime Minister has been informed, added Vijayan.
Meanwhile, a 65-year-old Tripunithura resident, who was admitted to the isolation ward of Ernakulam medical college, died on Sunday night. The man, who had arrived from abroad last month had completed his 28-day home quarantine, but suffered a heart attack on Sunday, following which he was rushed to the hospital. The test results of his swabs are awaited.