Kerala’s remarkable success in containing the novel coronavirus outbreak in the state has been reflected not just in how it flattened the curve, but also in the state’s death toll which remained in single digit for months.

However, an influx of non-residents returning to their homes in the state has lifted its curve once again. On Monday, the state reported two deaths taking the total to 17, reports said.

Kerala was the first to report a COVID-19 case in India on January 30. Till May 21, the state’s death toll remained at three. On May 31, it had increased to nine.

But since June began, the number of cases and fatalities in Kerala have increased at a worrying pace as authorities work to avoid community transmission and urge people to follow hygiene and social distancing norms.

“Kerala can handle the rising number of cases, if we prevent the community spread of the virus. Cooperation of the people and strict adherence to government guidelines are crucial in this endeavour,” state health minister K.K. Shailaja told reporters on Monday.

A rapid increase

On May 8, Kerala’s curve had dipped to just 16 active cases in the entire state.

Exactly one month later, on June 7, Kerala had over 1,000 patients under treatment, having reported over a hundred COVID-19 cases for three consecutive days.

Of the 1096 active cases currently in the state, 645 were reported in just the last one week.

In the same week, the state also reported six patient deaths.

Palakkad, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod are the districts with the highest number of patients currently with 164, 141, 116 and 109 respectively, as of Sunday night.

At least 1,91,481 people are under observation across the state, of which, 1,716 are in isolation wards of various hospitals, the state’s health department said.

On Sunday, the department added six more regions in the category of hotspots taking the total number to 144.