1,184 new cases take total past 35k; 7 more deaths in state

Thiruvananthapuram: Seven Covid-19 deaths and 1,184 new cases were reported in the state on Monday. The total positive cases to date stand at 35,515. Of the fresh cases, 1,005 were infected through contacts while the sources are unknown in 114 individuals.
Gracy Shiny, 54, of Ernakulam, Devadas, 45, of Kollam, Mohammed Kunju, 68, of Kasaragod, Alavikutty, 65, of Wayanad, Nafeeza, 52, of Malappuram, Aboobaker, 64, of Kozhikode and Jama, 50, of Thiruvananthapuram were the deaths reported on Monday. Among the new cases, 106 had come from abroad and 73 from other states. Meanwhile, 784 recoveries were also reported.
Most cases were reported from Malappuram, 255 cases, followed by 200 from Thiruvananthapuram, 147 from Palakkad, 146 from Kasaragod, 101 from Ernakulam, 66 from Kozhikode, 63 from Kannur, 41 from Kollam, 40 each from Kottayam and Thrissur, 33 from Wayanad, 30 from Alappuzha, 18 from Idukki and 4 are from Pathanamthitta.
Malappuram also reported the highest number of contact cases in the day, with 219 followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 178 cases, Kasargod 118 cases, Palakkad 100 cases, Ernakulam 83 cases, Kozhikode 52 cases, Kannur 46 cases, Kollam 33 cases, Thrissur 33 cases, Kottayam 32 cases, Wayanad 32 cases, Alappuzha 20 cases, Idukki 9 cases and one case from Pathanamthitta.
There were 41 healthcare workers, one aircrew each from Malappuram and Kozhikode, one DSC employee, and five INSH coast guard personnel from Ernakulam among the contact cases. In 24 hours, 20,583 samples were tested in the state taking the total to date to 45,1214 (including repeat, augmented and private lab samples). Besides, 1,37,805 samples were taken from priority groups as part of sentinel surveillance, of which 127 are pending.
There are 1,49,295 under surveillance, out of which 1,37,419 are under home or institutional quarantine and 11,876 are in isolation facilities. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that in the large community clusters of Thiruvananthapuram, 2800 samples were tested on Sunday, of which 288 came positive. IGs Harshita Attalluri and S Sreejith have been posted as special officers in rural and coastal areas respectively.
A neighbourhood watch system by the Janamitri police will be implemented to promote self-quarantine, the CM said.
“In the video conferencing held with the prime minister on Monday, the state government has asked to allow the states to utilize the funds from the state distress relief fund without any conditions. At present the states are allowed to utilize only 25% of the fund,” said the chief minister.