Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala reported 4,287 new coronavirus positive cases and 7,107 patients recovered from COVID-19 on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed during a press meet at Thiruvananthapuram.
Of the new cases, 3,711 contracted the disease through contact. The source of infection of 471 among them is unknown. As many as 52 infected persons came from outside the state. Fifty-three health workers also tested positive in the state on Monday
The state has reported 3,97,217 COVID-19 cases so far, out of which 3,02,017 persons recovered. The remaining 93,744 patients are undergoing treatment. The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) in Kerala stands at 12.9%.
The relatively low number of cases compared to previous days is owing to the less number of tests on Sunday. In the last 24 hours, only 35,141 samples were tested. On weekdays, the number of tests used to be over 55K.
COVID deaths
With 20 deaths being reported on Monday, the state's death toll has risen to 1,352.
A recent government report had showed that those above the age of 60 and those suffering from co-morbidities were the most affected by COVID-19.
“Failure of reverse quarantine was observed in 61 (24 per cent) of COVID-19 deaths. Mortality may be prevented by vigilant observation of reverse quarantine,'' said a report, prepared by the Death Audit Committee of Kerala's Health Department.
Out of the 223 deaths reported in August, 116 had high-blood pressure and 120 had diabetes.
Testing and quarantine
A total of 2,83,473 people are under observation in various districts. Of these, 2,60,675 are under home or institutional quarantine and 22,798 are in hospitals.
2,974 people were admitted in hospitals on Monday.
So far, 43,63,557 samples (including the augmented sample) have been sent for testing.
In addition, as part of Sentinel Surveillance, 2,13,108 samples were collected from priority groups, such as health workers, guest workers, social contacts.
On Monday, 19 more regions have been converted into hotspots and five have been excluded from the list taking the total number of hotspots to 682 in the state.
Key points from CM's press meet:
• It has been noticed that those residing near the people staying in are being isolated. This shouldn't be done instead one should support those staying in quarantine.
• Meetings and other functions should make sure that the number of people participating in it adhere to the guidelines.
• In Kollam, one need not go to the labs for testing, instead the labs will come to those who need the facility through the mobile testing lab introduced with the help of MLA KB Ganesh Kumar who funded Rs 17lakh for the initiative. Antigen and RT-PCR can be done here.
• Facilities in Kozhikode Medical College Hospital will be improved as many critical cases from Kozhikode and Kannur approach the hospital.
• 5,000 cases have been registered in Thrissur in the past five days.
• Not everyone are found wearing masks properly. The number of cases registered for not wearing masks are increasing.
• New package for KSRTC are being discussed and Rs 1,000 crore has been allotted to KSRTC in the past two years. Rs 4,160 crore has been allotted by this government already. Only Rs 1,120 crore was allotted during the UDF government.
• Rs 1500 will be given to permanent staffs in KSRTC every month and the discussion for hike in salary will be discussed.
District-wise breakup of today's positive cases:
Malappuram- 853 (813 through contact)
Thiruvananthapuram-513 (359)
Kozhikode-497 (470)
Thrissur- 480 (469)
Ernakulam-457 (337)
Alappuzha- 332 (312)
Kollam-316 (310)
Palakkad- 276 (164)
Kottayam- 194 (186)
Kannur- 174 (131)
Idukki- 79 (63)
Kasaragod- 64 (59)
Wayanad- 28 (21)
Pathanamthitta- 24 (17)
District-wise breakup of recoveries:
Thiruvananthapuram – 747
Kollam- 722
Pathanamthitta- 180
Alappuzha- 497
Kottayam- 191
Idukki- 66
Ernakulam- 1096
Thrissur- 723
Palakkad- 454
Malappuram- 1002
Kozhikode- 1023
Wayanad- 107
Kannur- 97
Kasaragod- 202
