Transmission dynamics shift post Onam

Thiruvananthapuram: If pre-Onam was about community and institution clusters, the dynamics of transmission seem to be shaping around family clusters post Onam in the state capital.
In Kalady, around 35 active cases have emerged from three families and more than 11 cases were reported from single family.
Karimadom, Kuriathi and Manacaud have over 90 active cases at present. Karimadom colony had a family in which 11 members tested positive for Covid-19.
The pattern of outbreak earlier detected in Karimadom colony and similar highly-populated colonies has undergone a shift. The health team was able to prevent spread of infection among family members after one member tested positive earlier, however, now almost all family members are testing positive soon after an index patient is identified, evidently pointing at the transmission within the family.
Kalady had hardly recovered from a recent outbreak that another burst has been reported now which is mostly coming from families. The health officials said the spread has been spotted mostly in families residing closely either within a same compound or amongst members of a joint family.
Rajaji Nagar, where sporadic cases were being reported and spread among contacts was effectively checked, has now given into family spread. There are around 30 live cases at present and the chain involves mostly family members. It also presents painful situations for the family. In one instance, a mother of a three-month-old baby was tested positive and now the baby and mother have been isolated under home care and other family members have to stay away from mother and baby.
Karimadom colony, which has averted a random spread earlier, has reportedly hosted family gatherings as part of Onam, health officials have learnt. The team is now probing whether such occurrence led to spread of disease among family members. Within the past one week, 300 tests have been done at Karimadom.
More tests are being scheduled in Mancaud region on Sunday which also includes an orphanage and a residential colony. The officials said they are getting conflicting reports of positive patients taking part in family gatherings as part of Onam festivities. While index patients have mostly been symptomatic, rest of the family members are mostly asymptomatic.
Closely populated residential colonies had posed the biggest challenge in curbing the spread in coastal clusters during July and August. If the present outbreak in colonies of similar nature spills over to the community, the worst nightmare would come true for health officials. The team had painstakingly managed to check the spread of disease from coastal areas to other parts of the district with extended lockdown and it had come at a huge price of soaring public dissent on losing means of livelihood. The authorities are keen on averting a similar situation within the city and are trying to keep family clusters under check.
Kallikadu panchayat, which has been in the thick of disease transmission, is now reporting cases mostly from Mylakkara and Chamalappuram. The officials call it a case of delayed peak as many of the neighbouring wards had already gone through the peak and are on a downward slide. A total of 46 cases have so far been reported at Chamalappuram.