Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala recorded 27,487 new COVID-19 cases on Monday after testing 99,748 samples in the last 24 hours. This took the test positivity rate (TPR) to 27.56 per cent, a slight drop when compared to the past three days.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said during his evening briefing that there were 72 panchayats across the state with more than 50 per cent test positivity rate. In over 300 panchayats, TPR is above 30%.
The state also recorded 31,209 recoveries from the infection.
There are 4,19,726 active cases as of Monday.
The state reported 19,30,115 COVID-19 infections so far. Of this, 15,04,160 recovered.
Of the new cases, 24,815 had contracted the virus through contact while 255 had come from outside the state. Among the contact cases, the source of infection of 2,303 is yet to be traced.
There are 114 health workers among the new cases.
The death toll rose to 5,879 with 65 more deaths due to the disease being confirmed. Though more deaths were reported, the state is yet to ascertain them as COVID deaths. Tests are underway at the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha.
Key points from CM's press meet:
• The three-day average TPR has come down to 26.5 per cent.
• There are 57 panchayats with active caseload of 500-2000.
• In Ernakulam, TPR is above 50 per cent in 19 panchayats.
• The number of patients keep rising in Kannur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Stringer containment measures are needed in these districts.
• As much as 450 metric tonne oxygen will be needed in the state till May 15.
• Steps have been taken to reduce oxygen wastage.
• Technical team will inspect this in all districts.
• Three more oxygen plants have been allotted by Centre.
• More doctors and paramedical staff will be appointed on temporary basis.
• The government is taking all steps to make pulse oximeter available at cheaper rates.
• Home delivery facilities will be strengthened in the state.
• Police have been instructed to issue travel passes only to people in emergency.
• As many as 1,259 police personnel are infected currently. Health officials have been instructed to provide them all medical help.
• A total of 3.5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccines, which the state government has procured directly, have reached the state. Priority will be given to vaccinate people with serious illnesses in the age group of 18-45. Volunteers at the civic body level and media persons will also be given priority.
• The lockdown during the first was preventive. This time it's an emergency lockdown. The main aim of the lockdown this time is to keep the fatality rate down.
Here's the district-wise break-up of today's positive cases:
Thiruvananthapuram - 3,494 (contact cases - 3,231)
Malappuram - 3,443 (3,253)
Thrissur - 3,280 (3,249)
Ernakulam - 2,834 (2,699)
Kozhikode - 2,522 (2,419)
Palakkad - 2,297 (8,11)
Kollam - 2,039 (2,028)
Alappuzha - 1,908 (1,906)
Kannur - 1,838 (1,617)
Kottayam - 1,713 (1,589)
Kasaragod - 919 (886)
Pathanamthitta - 450 (415)
Idukki - 422 (407)
Wayanad - 328 (305)
Recoveries:
Kozhikode - 4,995
Ernakulam - 3,999
Malappuram - 3,694
Palakkad - 3,526
Thiruvananthapuram - 2,696
Kollam - 2,280
Thrissur - 2,076
Alappuzha - 2,071
Kottayam - 2,054
Kannur - 1,803
Kasaragod - 825
Pathanamthitta - 431
Wayanad - 383
Idukki - 376
Testing and Quarantine
Till Monday, 1,71,33,089 samples (including routine, airport surveillance, pooled sentinel, CBNAAT, TrueNAT, CLIA and antigen assay) were sent for testing.
A total of 9,89,991 people are under observation across the state. Of them, 9,56,932 are under home or institutional quarantine while 33,059 are in hospital. A total of 3,580 were admitted in hospitals on Monday.
Two regions have been designated as hotspots taking the total number of hotspots to 798.
