Pathanamthitta: Kerala is likely to witness a massive surge in COVID-19 cases in the next three weeks, says Health Minister Veena George. The minister urged the public to stick to the Covid norms.
The minister said that there are 78 active Covid clusters in the state currently. The minister said that the Delta and Omicron variants of coronavirus are active in the state.
The minister said that most of the virus spread happens at establishments.
The health minister added that it would be ensured that Covid protocols are strictly being followed at meetings and public events of political parties including ruling - CPM.
The health department and the Left party was under attack from various quarters, including the ruling party supporters, following the recent Thiruvathira dance performance which was held as part of the district meet of the CPI(M). The health department later registered a case against the organisers for violating COVID protocols.
She ensured that action will be taken as per the COVID-19 protocol in the backdrop of Covid cases being reported from the participants of the CPM's Thiruvananthapuram district conference. All those who came in contact with the patient must go on quarantine, she added.
The minister also ensured that there is no shortage of medicines in the state as of now.
Kerala's Test Positivity Rate (TPR) rose to 26.92% on Saturday as 17,755 more tested positive for COVID-19. Among them, 4,694 cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram. The state now has 90,649 active cases.
George said the government was planning to reopen the COVID-19 First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTCs) across the state. "We have already asked the district collectors to look into the possibility of reopening the CFLTCs," she said.
The minister also informed that 51 per cent of children in the age group of 15 to 18 received the COVID-19 vaccine in the state.
"A total of 7,66,741 children received the vaccine. Thrissur district vaccinated the most number of children - 97,458," she said.
The vaccination for children of the particular age group started on January 3 and the inoculation was conducted through special drives in schools.
A total of 1,67,813 persons received the booster dose in the state, the minister said, adding that it includes 96,946 health workers and 26,360 front line workers and 44,507 persons above the age of 60.
The health department had earlier in the day said 99.68 per cent (2,66,24,042) of the targeted population (18 years and above) of the state have received the first dose of vaccine whereas 82.27 per cent (2,19,73,681) received both the doses.
(With PTI inputs)
