Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that everyone should be careful in the coming days as Keralities in large numbers were returning to the state from abroad and other states.
“We are doing everything to avoid a third phase. We are fully prepared for any situation. With the return of the Pravasi Malayalees from abroad and other states, we should be more careful in the coming days. We expect responsible behaviour from the general public in this regard,” the Chief Minister told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
Stating that coronavirus was first reported from Kerala in the country, he said that they could flatten the curve. The State was able to restrain the spread and the recovery rate was comparable to the highest in the world, he added.
With respect to the expatriates, Vijayan said that the Government provided all support. He also mentioned that those coming from Red Zones will have to go for the mandatory 14 day quarantine.
He mentioned that a flight from Doha was expected to land in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday with people from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta districts and Kanyakumari.
The Chief Minister also requested those in quarantine to follow the instructions of health workers. “Quarantine centres are not set up like relief camps that are set up very quickly in the event of natural calamities. The centres have been set up in accordance with the healthcare standards”, he added.
He said that 86,679 Malayalees in other States have registered for passes. Of these, 37,891 are from places that were declared Red zones. As of now, he said that 45,814 passes were issued. As per records, 16,385 people are back in the state. He said that pass distribution will continue as per the procedure but entry will not be permitted for those without prior registration.
With respect to migrant labourers, the Chief Minister mentioned that 24,088 of them have returned to their native places till May 7.
Vijayan also stated that only one new case of coronavirus was reported on May 8. A person in Ernakulam was reported positive. He had come from Chennai. Meanwhile, ten patients under treatment in Kannur tested negative.
The total number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus infection in the State is 503 and 16 patients are still under treatment in different hospitals. A total of 20,157 people are under surveillance in the State with 19,810 quarantined at their homes and 347 isolated at hospitals.
