In the highest single day surge, Kerala reported 35,013 Covid cases even as the Test Positivity Rate stood at a higher 25.34 per cent on Wednesday, April 28. Meanwhile, the state Government decided to purchase one crore doses of Covid vaccines from the open market.
Stating that more restrictions will be placed in the state considering the surge of Covid 19 cases, Kerala Chef Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the people to avoid crowding and not to go out unnecessarily.
The Cabinet that met on Wednesday took the decision to buy the vaccine doses. Apart from this, the Cabinet also decided not to go for complete lock down in the state. The All Party meet on Monday had decided not to impose complete lockdown.
MORE VACCINES
In a tweet, Pinarayi Vijayan said “Kerala will purchase 1 crore doses of #COVID19 vaccines from the open market. 70L doses of Covishield and 30L doses of Covaxin will be procured for next 3 months, May – July, for Rs. 483 crore. Priority for 2nd dose. Our vaccination drive will go ahead, uninterrupted.
Kerala will purchase 1 crore doses of #COVID19 vaccines from the open market. 70L doses of Covishield and 30L doses of Covaxin will be procured for next 3 months, May – July, for Rs. 483 crore. Priority for 2nd dose. Our vaccination drive will go ahead, uninterrupted.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) April 28, 2021
INCREASE IN CASES
A majority of districts recorded more than 2000 cases on Wednesday. Ernakulam district with 5287 covid 19 cases had the largest number of cases. Kozhikode district followed with 4317 cases. When Thrissur reported 4107 cases, Malappuram had 3684 cases on a single day. Thiruvananthapuram reported 3210 cases, Kottayam 2917, Alappuzha 2235, Palakkad 1920, Kannur 1857, Kollam 1422, Idukki 1251, Pathanamthitta 1202, Kasaragod 872 and Wayanad 732 Covid 19 cases.
SAMPLES TESTED
The health officials said that 1,38,190 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. A total of 1,54,92,489 samples have been tested so far, including LAMP and antigen testing. The officials said that no one from the UK, South Africa or Brazil tested positive. With 41 deaths on Wednesday related to Covid 19, the total toll due to the virus stood at 5211 until now.
The health officials said that 32,474 people got the infection through contact. Contact source for 2167 is not clear. They also stated that Coronavirus affected 97 health workers on Wednesday.
At present, 5,51,133 people are under surveillance in the state. Of these, 5,28,407 are under home / institutional quarantine and 20,418 in hospitals.
MASS VACCINATION AND IMA
The Indian Medical Association, Kerala Chapter pointed out that mass vaccination drives using stadiums and halls increased the risk of virus spread. IMA State President Dr PT Zacharias and State Secretary Dr P Gopikumar opined that Vaccination centres should be increased. This means less number of people at the vaccination centres. More people are at risk of infection through these mass vaccination drives.
They also asked the government to ensure the availability of oxygen. Oxygen starvation should be anticipated, as the number of patients is likely to increase tenfold in the next one week. They called for distributing oxygen to other states only after ensuring adequate supply of oxygen in Kerala, they said.
