Even as India reported 37,593 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, Kerala alone on Wednesday reported over 30,000 Covid-19 cases, after a gap of three months, while the test positivity rate (TPR) rose to 19 per cent. The last time Kerala recorded over 30,000 cases in a day was 20 May when it reported 30,491 fresh infections.
Kerala reported 31,445 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday and the toll mounted to 19,972 with 215 new deaths. With this, the number of Covid cases in the state reported a spike of nearly 30 per cent over the past 24 hours. On Wednesday, seven of the 14 districts— Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kollam, and Kottayam—reported upwards of 2,000 cases each. While Ernakulam reported the highest number of fresh infections (more than 4000 cases), Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram reported more than 3,000 cases each. Kerala had reported 24,296 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.
Kerala celebrated Onam on 21 August. After the Onam festivities, medical experts had predicted that the positivity rate would go beyond 20 per cent and that the number of infections would rise further. In the last 24 hours, 1,65,273 samples were tested and the TPR was found to be 19.03 per cent. So far, 3,06,19,046 samples have been tested. As many as 20,271 people have been cured of the infection since Tuesday, taking the total recoveries to 36,92,628 and the number of active cases to 1,70,292.
Earlier on 16 August, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Kerala and discussed the public health response to Covid-19 in the state with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Health Minister Veena George. A six-member team deputed by the Centre to look into the high number of infections in Kerala had earlier reported lapses in home isolation protocols, contact-tracing measures and a low number of RT-PCR tests.
Union Minister of State V. Muraleedharan on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister Vijayan over the deteriorating Covid-19 situation in the state and alleged that the state government had failed to protect the lives of people. Attacking the Kerala government over the situation in the state, Muraleedharan said Vijayan’s illogical strategy and motivated media propaganda is costing the nation dearly. In a tweet today, Muraleedharan wrote,
“Alarming #COVID19 situation in Kerala, @vijayanpinarayi has clearly failed to protect people’s lives. Kerala alone recorded 24,296 cases and 173 deaths yesterday @vijayanpinarayi’s illogical strategy and motivated media propaganda costing dearly to the nation. #VijayanfailsKerala”.
Facing flak over the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state, state Health Minister Veena George said an intensive screening programme has been launched to detect as soon as possible all those infected with coronavirus and to reduce further spread of the pandemic. In a Facebook post, she said testing will be maximised in low vaccination districts and people should voluntarily get tested.
She said that sample collection will be done directly in the cluster areas and through camps and steps have also been taken to provide the test results without delay. Kerala has adopted the scientific method of test per million by case per million and therefore, as the number of cases increased, so did the number of inspections, she added. All those who are suffering from fever, cold, and sore throat or are susceptible to these diseases and those who have been in contact with Covid positive persons should be screened for the virus, the minister said. She further said that people with respiratory problems and serious illnesses should be examined to make sure they are not infected by Covid-19, even if they have only minor symptoms, as such people can be severely affected if they are infected with the coronavirus. If anyone who has attended a public ceremony or event, like a wedding or funeral, tests Covid positive, everyone who was there at such events should get tested, she said.
As per the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday, 648 new fatalities pushed the cumulative toll to 4,35,758. The total caseload in the country climbed to 3,25,12,366, including 3,22,327 active cases. Active cases now account for less than 1 per cent of the total cases and is currently at 0.99 per cent. Cumulative recoveries rose to 3,17,54,281 after 34,169 fresh recoveries in the last 24 hours. With this, the recovery rate has gone up to 97.67 per cent. A total of 51,11,84,547 samples were tested up to August 24, of which, 17,92,755 samples were tested yesterday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The week positivity rate currently stands at 1.92 per cent, less than 3 per cent for the last 61 days whereas the daily positivity rate at 2.10 per cent, less than 3 per cent for the last 30 days.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS