The fluctuation of new COVID-19 cases reported from Kerala continues. The state reported seven more cases on Saturday, a day after just three were confirmed on Friday.
As many as seven COVID patients recovered on Saturday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at his daily briefing in Thiruvananthapuram.
A worrying fact is that of the seven new cases reported, three are from Kottayam which looked all safe until a few days ago. Kottayam now has nine active cases. Kollam also reported three more cases with active cases in the southern district rising to 12. One of the three who tested positive is a woman health worker.
Kannur district, which has the highest number of COVID patients in Kerala at present (56), reported only one case on Saturday.
Kasaragod, the worst-hit district, seems to be almost out of the coronavirus radar with no new case being reported from there. Now there are only 15 patients under treatment in Kasaragod, though 2,375 people are under observation. The district has recorded a recovery rate of 90.8 per cent.
Two patients each in Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod and one in Wayanad recovered on Saturday.
There are no COVID patients under treatment in Wayanad, Thrissur and Alappuzha districts.
As on Saturday (April 25), there have been 457 COVID patients in the state. Of them, 116 are still undergoing treatment. Of the 22,360 samples sent for tests, 21,475 have returned negative.
As many as 21,044 are under observation in the state – 20,580 in homes and 464 in hospitals. As many as 132 suspected patients were hospitalised on Saturday.
The chief minister was particularly elated by the fact that an octogenarian was among those who recovered on Saturday. Mooriyad Abubacker, 84, a native of Koothuparamba in Kannur was cured of COVID at Kozhikode Medical College. The chief minister appreciated the health workers for the recovery of Abubacker who had other complications including kidney ailments.
The CM said the Union government has expressed happiness over the state's preparedness to welcome expatriates once they return from foreign countries. The Union Cabinet secretary conveyed this at a video conference with state chief secretaries. The central official even advised other states to emulate the Kerala model.
The foreign affairs secretary has informed the chief secretary that there would be a constructive intervention by the Centre to bring back the expatriates.
Explaining the lockdown relaxations announced by the Centre on April 24, Vijayan said shops in rural areas that are registered under Shops and Establishment Act can open from Sunday. Shops should be cleaned and disinfected before opening and must operate with just half the staff.
The Centre said shops in municipalities and corporations can be allowed to open with restrictions. The union government's order, which is expected soon, will give a clearer picture.
Other major announcements by the CM:
• Testing facilities will be made available in private hospitals. They must strictly heed the directives issued by the Health Department.
• Triple lockdown will be implemented in hotspots in Red Zones. In areas under triple lock, police will take care of essential food supply and provisions.
• Rs 1,000 will be distributed immediately to Below Poverty Line families.
• Police checking at border districts will be strengthened in the wake of the Tamil Nadu government deciding to strengthen lockdown for 60 hours starting Sunday to Tuesday. Vehicles will not be allowed to Tamil Nadu these days.
CM slams teachers for burning govt order
The chief minister was vocally critical of a section of teachers who burned the government order regarding holding back a portion of the government employee's salary to raise funds to overcome the financial crunch. He cited the example of school students and ordinary people who have generously contributed to the CMDRF to drive his point home.
“When the government launched the salary challenge during the 2018 floods, thousands of government employees took it up despite facing many hardships. This time, they (government employees) have been asked to hold back six days' salary for five months. This is because of the severe financial crisis faced by the government. A minority is even against that. The worst form of the opposition was demonstrated by burning the order. They should remember that there is a section of people who are struggling without a job or wages. I would also like to remind them that we have a lot more distance to cover in the efforts to contain COVID,” he said.
