Kerala peaks at 42 Covid-19 positive cases, CM calls situation 'alarming'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state reported the highest number of Covid-19 positive cases in a day - 42 -- on Friday, three more than the 39 reported on March 27. Obviously a result of the huge influx of Keralites from abroad and other states, the surge in cases was characterised by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan as "alarming" though he also said that there was no reason to panic.
Among the positive cases reported, 21 came from Maharashtra, one each from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and 17 people came from abroad. Among this 12 people are from Kannur, seven from Kasaragod, five each from Palakkad and Kozhikode, four each from Thrissur and Malappuram, two from Kottayam and one each from Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad.
The chief minister said on Friday that Malappuram and Kannur have most number of active cases, with 36 cases each, followed by 26 cases in Palakkad, 22 cases in Kasaragod, 18 cases in Kozhikode and 16 cases in Thrissur. "The number of cases is increasing and it is an alarming situation. But the only relief is the fact that the cases which are positive are among people who have come from outside. The people who are getting infected through contact are very less. This is the relief we have now,'' the CM said. "The lockdown relaxation has been made to carry life forward and not for celebrating. People will have to be much more careful while coming out. The situation is not under control and we cannot let the situation turn worse due to our carelessness,'' he added.
After the Vande Bharat ad Samudra Setu mission were launched, the state received 82,290 people of which 12,710 people have been put under institutional quarantine and 213 people under isolation in various hospitals.
One person in Kannur got infected through direct contact and one positive case reported from Kozhikode is a health worker. Test results of two Covid-19 patients under treatment in Malappuram have been declared negative. The state has recorded 732 positive cases till date of which 216 people are presently undergoing treatment in various hospitals. Those under surveillance is 84,258, of which 83,649 are under home or institutional quarantine and 609 are admitted in designated isolation facilities.
51,310 samples have been sent for testing till date
Till date 51,310 samples (including augmented samples) have been sent for testing out of which 49,535 tested negative. Apart from this, 7,072 samples were taken from priority groups like healthcare workers, persons with high social exposure, workers, etc as part of sentinel surveillance of which 6,630 samples tested negative.
The CM said this is not the time to panic and that the state government has made all preparations to meet any eventuality. “We have to give proper care and treatment for the people who ae being tested positive. For this more facilities and more hospitals are ready”, he said. It has been ensured that adequate medicines, PPEs, masks and ventilators are ready at hospitals if there is any increase in the number of patients. “It is most unfortunate that there are still incidents being reported of people not wearing masks. Today, 4,047 such incidents have been reported across the state. It is sad that the at least a few sections of people are not ready to heed the warnings,” the CM said.