Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala reported 63 more COVID-19 cases on Friday, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 1,151. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, however, said that there is nothing much to fear about the rise in the numbers as it was expected with the easing of lockdown restrictions.
In his daily briefing, Pinarai had reported 62 COVID-19 cases. However, later in the evening, one more person who died while in observation, was confirmed to be coronavirus positive.
Of the 63 cases, 34 came from abroad and 23 from other states (Tamil Nadu – 10, Maharashtra - 10, Karnataka, Delhi, Punjab -1 each). One person contracted the disease through contact.
There are two inmates of special sub-jails in Thiruvananthapuram and Neyyattinkara and a health worker among the infected. Two Air India cabin crew members have also tested positive.
There are 577 active cases in the state.
District-wise split-up of Friday's confirmed cases:
Palakkad – 14, Kannur – 7, Thrissur – 6, Pathanamthitta – 6, Malappuram – 5, Thiruvananthapuram – 5, Kasaragod – 4, Ernakulam – 4, Alappuzha – 4, Wayanad – 2, Kollam – 2, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode – 1 each.
Ten patients tested negative on Friday – Wayanad – 5, Kozhikode – 2, Kannur, Malappuram, Kasaragod – 1 each.
Two gulf returnees succumbed to the virus, taking the total number of fatalities in the state to ten.
Jose Joy, 38, from Pandanad gram panchayat in Chengannur died at Alappuzha Government Medical College and Joshy, 68, from Thiruvalla breathed his last at the Kottayam Government Medical College.
Of the 1,24,167 people under observation for suspected infection, 1,23,087 are home/institutional quarantined and 1,080 hospitalised. As many as 231 people were hospitalised on Friday.
Of the 62,744 samples sent for tests, 60,448 have turned negative. Samples of 11,468 people among priority groups were tested as part of sentinel surveillance. Of them, 10,635 have turned negative.
There are 101 hotspots in the state; 22 were added to the list on Friday.
The chief minister reiterated that there are no signs of community spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Pinarayi Vijayan started the press conference by paying respects to late socialist leader M P Veerendra Kumar.
