Thiruvananthapuram: 416 people tested positive for coronavirus and 112 patients were cured of the deadly disease in Kerala on Friday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed during his press conference at Thiruvananthapuram.
This is the first time that Kerala has reported more than 400 cases.
Of the positive cases today, 204 had contracted the disease through contact. While 123 came from abroad, 51 came from neighbouring states.
Here's the district-wise breakup of today's positive cases:
Kasaragod: 17
Kannur: 23
Kozhikode: 12
Malappuram: 41
Thrissur: 17
Ernakulam: 20
Idukki: 12
Kottayam: 7
Alappuzha: 50
Pathanamthitta: 32
Kollam: 28
Thiruvananthapuram: 129
District-wise breakup of patients cured:
Kasaragod: 3
Kannur: 14
Wayanad: 4
Malappuram: 18
Palakkad: 8
Thrissur: 19
Ernakulam: 4
Idukki: 4
Kottayam: 9
Alappuzha: 24
Thiruvananthapuram: 5
Key points from CM's speech:
• Contact cases in Kerala now account for 20% of total cases.
• In Kerala, the density of population is higher compared to other places. If we don't pay heed to the guidelines issued by the officials, then we will be in community transmission.
• Our negligence is responsible for the rampant spread of the virus.
• After China and Singapore, the next big hotspot of coronavirus was Thailand. However, when people worked together alongside the officials to combat the virus, they were able to bring the spread under control. They were diligent in following social distance and this has proved to be immensely helpful.
• Cuba too showed that it can mitigate the threats posed by Coronavirus. By ensuring a thorough sentinel surveillance system in place, it was able to put a stop to the spread of the virus.
• In Kerala, several factions are undermining the efforts we have taken thus far to avert community transmission. This is disheartening.
• In Thiruvananthapuram, of the 129 who tested positive today, 105 contracted the disease through contact.
• Five clusters have been identified here. The government has also identified two large clusters in the state - Ponnani and three wards in Thiruvananthapuram.
• Efforts are on to ensure that the threat posed by COVID here is mitigated. Containment zones have been identified here. Roads to and from these places will be barricades. Only one exit-entry route will be allowed.
• Those who show symptoms will be asked to undergo more tests including antigen tests.
• In Containment Zones, social distancing will be strictly enforced. But the efforts of the official alone won't matter, each individual do should their part.
• 200 volunteers have been roped in at Poonthura to spread awareness among the people here.
• In three wards of Thiruvananthapuram, 1,192 antigen tests were done. Several were identified to be positive. For them, a reverse quarantine action plan too will be implemented.
• Several political leaders are derailing the government's efforts by spreading misinformation. A Youth Congress leader, it is learned, is spreading false information about antigen tests and urging people to boycott it. Today, believing this false information, several - including women - staged a protest in Thiruvananthapuram leading to much disruptions to our efforts.
• The small unpleasantries you feel on hearing your region in bad light must not veil the larger agenda behind our purpose - the collective welfare of our people.
COVID in ITBP camp
Alappuzha reported 50 cases on Friday- the highest single-day count in the district. Of them, 46 are from other the state and eight from abroad. Four contacted the disease through contact.
Of the 46 patients from other states, 36 are officials of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police's unit at Nooranad.
A 73-year-old woman of Bharanikavu is among those who contracted the disease through local transmission. She tested positive while undergoing treatment at Alappuzha Medical College for other diseases. Her source of infection has not been identified.
The other three people who contracted the virus through contact have their source of infection identified. They are the mother of a Puliyur native who tested positive on June 3 and a Thattarambalam native (60) and Chunakkara native (36) who were in the contact list of a Kurathikadu native undergoing treatment.
Prohibitory orders in Ponnani
The Malappuram district collector has issued prohibitory orders in Ponnani taluk fearing possibility of community transmission. More than five people are not allowed to gather at any place other than those providing essential services. People are allowed to move out only to seek medical help, weddings or funeral related events.
The prohibitory orders are applicable in all nine panchayats and Ponnani municipality. Of the 41 cases in Malappuram, 21 contracted the disease through local transmission. All the 21 cases were detected in and around Ponnani as part of the sentinel surveillance. The patients include, bus conductor, fishermen and local vendors. The remaining 20 cases are imported ones from abroad.
COVID Cases in other districts
Pathanamthitta saw a spike in the cases as 32 tested positive. There are seven contact cases among them. Two of them are women from Nalkkalikkal, aged 63 and 57. A 52-year-old woman of Vayala has also tested positive. Four people in a containment zone of Pathanamthitta municipality found to be positive in rapid antigen tests.
Of the 23 cases in Kannur, 13 are returnees from other states and nine from abroad. A CISF soldier is the other new patient.
The figures of Ernakulam throws up a scary picture. Fifteen of the 20 cases contracted the virus through local transmission. They include six workers of Aluva market, now shut, who were in the contact list of a Choornikkara native tested positive on July 7. Minister V S Sunil Kumar termed it a dangerous sign.
Kasaragod reported 11 contact cases among the 17 fresh cases. Four of those who contracted the virus through local transmission are staff of a vegetable shop in Kasaragod town. Three of a family in Kasaragod municipality also tested positive. A youth who runs a fruits shop in Kasaragod town, a staffer of a car showroom in Kasaragod and a female health worker of Chengala also tested positive.
Poonthura fishers defy lockdown
Hundreds of residents in Thiruvananthapuram's Poonthura ward have come out of their houses and swarmed the public road in open defiance of the triple lockdown imposed in the coastal ward. A Health Department vehicle was also attacked.
Health minister K K Shailaja teacher said two 150-bed temporary hospitals would soon be erected near Poonthura to treat locals.
They are also particularly irritated by the presence of the Coast Guard along the Poonthura coast. "We feel it is just a show, only to tell the world that the government is keeping the unruly Poonthura residents in check. If they really want to prevent us from going into the sea, the Coast Guard should be deployed at Vizhnjam. Because during these monsoon months when the sea is rough we are no fools to go fishing from Poonthura. We travel by road to Vizhinjam harbour and it is from there we begin our journey," said Francis Lazar, a sociology graduate in Poonthura.
Testing and quarantine
Of the 1,84,112 people under observation for suspected infection, 3,517 are hospitalised and the remaining under home/institutional quarantine. As many as 472 people were hospitalised on Friday.
Till date 2,26,868 samples (including repeat, augmented and private lab samples) have been sent for testing, out of which results of 4,525 are pending.
Apart from above, 70,112 samples were taken from priority groups like health care workers, persons with high social exposure, workers etc. as part of sentinel surveillance of which 66,132 samples tested negative. There are 193 hotspots in the state now.
