Kerala is seeing a rapid increase of coronavirus in the last several days and the last two days has witnessed about 1200 cases, which included more than 800 contact cases. The increases of contact cases have raised many a concern and points at community spread.
Briefing reporters in Thiruvanathapuram, State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 623 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Wednesday, July 15. The state also saw the recovery of 196 patients.
Of the 623 cases, the greatest concern raised is that 432 cases of infection were through contact and the worst is that the source of infection was unknown in 37 cases. Ninety six of those diagnosed were returnees from overseas and 76 from other states. Nine healthcare workers and an equal number of DSC personnel were also infected, the Chief Minister said.
Though the state was seeing an increase of corona cases in an alarming level, Vijayan said that the situation was still under control even though super spread has happened and clusters have formed in a few places. “It is a matter of concern that the numbers have increased. We should exercise more restrictions to contain the spread. Everyone should cooperate and we will be able to restrict the spread without going to the next stage of community spread. At the same time, steps are being taken to increase testing capabilities,” he said.
The district-wise details of the positive cases are 157 from Thiruvananthapuram, 74 in Kasargod, 72 from Ernakulam, 64 each in Pathanamthitta and Kozhikode, 55 from Idukki, 35 in Kannur, 25 from Kottayam, 20 in Alappuzha. 19 from Palakkad, 18 in Malappuram, 11 in Kollam, five in Thrissur and four in Wayanad.
The district-wise details of the contact cases are 137 persons in Thiruvananthapuram, 64 in Ernakulam, 63 in Kozhikode, 57 in Kasargod, 42 in Pathanamthitta, 23 in Idukki, 21 in Kottayam, eight in Kollam, six in Alappuzha, four in Malappuram, three in Kannur and two each in Thrissur and Palakkad.
53 patients from Palakkad district, 44 in Malappuram district, 19 from Pathanamthitta district, 17 in Kasargod district, 15 from Kozhikode district, 13 in Kottayam district, 11 from Thiruvananthapuram district, 10 in Kannur district, eight from Kollam district, three in Idukki district and one each from Ernakulam, Thrissur and Wayanad districts are those who tested negative today.
Till now, 9,553 Covid cases were confirmed in the State and 4,880 patients are still undergoing treatment. 4,636 have been cured of Coronavirus.
There are at present 1,84,601 people under surveillance in various districts of the state, 1,79,612 in home or institutional quarantine and 4,989 in isolation at hospitals. 602 persons were admitted to the hospital today.
In the last 24 hours, 16,444 samples were tested. A total of 4,53,716 samples have so far been sent for testing and the results of 7,485 samples are expected. Of these, 82,568 samples were collected from high-risk groups as part of Sentinel Surveillance, of which 78,415 samples were negative.
The state has added 16 new hotspots on Wednesday while nine places have been exempted from the list. There are 234 hotspots in Kerala now.
