Thiruvananthapuram: 11,755 people tested positive for coronavirus and 7,570 patients were cured of COVID-19 in Kerala on Saturday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed during his press conference at Thiruvananthapuram.
This is the first time that the state is reporting more than 11,000 cases in a day. As many as 23 deaths were also recorded on Saturday taking the official toll to 978.
Test positivity rate (TPR) now stands at 17.74 after increasing testing in the state. This indicates that COVID is likely to peak further, Pinarayi said.
Of the new cases, 10,471 contracted the disease through contact. The source of infection of 962 among them is unknown. As many as 40 infected persons came from abroad while 169 came from other states.
The state has reported 2,79,855 COVID-19 cases so far, out of which 1,82,874 persons recovered. The remaining 95,918 patients are currently undergoing treatment.
In September Kerala recorded 1,20,721 cases of COVID-19 and 448 deaths, almost double the number of cases it had cumulatively registered till August 31.
In the last seven days, the state recorded over 50,000 new cases, hitting more than 10,000 cases on Wednesday.
116 health workers also tested positive in the state on Saturday – 25 from Kannur, 20 from Thiruvananthapuram, 19 from Kozhikode, 14 from Ernakulam, 10 from Kollam, eight from Alappuzha, seven from Malappuram, five from Kottayam, four from Pathanamthitta, two from Wayanad and one each from Palakkad and Kasaragod.
Testing and quarantine
A total of 2,80,387 people are under observation in various districts. Of these, 2,51,714 are under home or institutional quarantine and 28,673 are in hospitals.
3,888 people were admitted in hospitals on Saturday.
In the last 24 hours 66,228 samples were tested.
So far, 34,38,678 samples (including the augmented sample) have been sent for testing.
In addition, as part of Sentinel Surveillance, 2,12,688 samples were collected from priority groups, such as health workers, guest workers, social contacts.
On Saturday, 11 more regions have been converted into hotspots and 40 have been excluded from the list taking the total number of hotspots to 665 in the state.
District-wise breakup of today's positive cases:
Malappuram - 1632 (contact cases – 1580)
Kozhikode - 1324 (1249)
Thiruvananthapuram - 1310 (1062)
Thrissur - 1208 (1208)
Ernakulam - 1191 (979)
Kollam - 1107 (1083)
Alappuzha - 843 (825)
Kannur - 727 (542)
Palakkad - 677 (383)
Kasaragod - 539 (516)
Kottayam - 523 (515)
Pathanamthitta - 348 (270)
Wayanad - 187 (176)
Idukki - 139 (83)
District-wise breakup of recoveries:
Thiruvananthapuram – 905
Kollam – 1022
Pathanamthitta – 209
Alappuzha – 526
Kottayam – 173
Idukki – 57
Ernakulam – 983
Thrissur – 510
Palakkad – 396
Malappuram – 1061
Kozhikode – 965
Wayanad – 130
Kannur – 337
Key points from CM's speech:
• 66,228 samples tested in last 24 hours
• Kerala has reinforced its health infrastructure to mitigate the rising threat posed by COVID.
• Our first-line treatment centres for COVID have been pivotal in curbing the surge of COVID locally. The selfless efforts of our healthcare workers too must be lauded for arresting COVID fatality in the state.
• The people of Kerala must rally behind our healthcare workers who've been working very hard these past eight months. The best way to help them is to adhere to their many directions and those dictated by the Health Department.
• The CM also urged people to join the State's volunteering effort, the COVID brigade, to fight the virus.
• It was noticed that 10 per cent of those who venture outside are still not wearing masks. This is disheartening.
• It has been found that wearing masks can drastically reduce the possibility of contracting the virus. The little steps that we take can make a lot of difference.
• The plan to make children in each home as ambassadors of break the campaign is underway.
• Auto, taxi drivers must use hand sanitizers, masks.
• Those who utilize public transport too must take all precautions. Arrangements must be made at public locations to ensure that hand washing stations are set up.
• 61 cases registered today for violating COVID restrictions, 153 arrested
• A virtual queue will be set up to facilitate those visiting Sabarimala temple.
• Pamba river will be off limits to the pilgrims. Bathing will be prohibited.
