Thiruvananthapuram: 1,212 people tested positive for coronavirus and 880 patients were cured of COVID-19 in Kerala on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed during his press conference at Thiruvananthapuram. With this total COVID-19 cases reported in the state reached 38,144.

Of the new cases recorded on Wednesday, 1,068 contracted the disease through contact. The source of infection of 45 among them is unknown. As many as 51 infected persons came from abroad while 64 came from other states.

Twenty-two health workers also tested positive in the state on Wednesday.

District-wise breakup of today's positive cases:

Thiruvananthapuram 266 (contact cases- 255)

Malappuram 261 (234)

Ernakulam 121 (111)

Alappuzha 118 (105)

Kozhikode 93 (70)

Palakkad 81 (71)

Kottayam 76 (66)

Kasaragod 68 (64)

Idukki 42 (34)

Kannur 31 (16)

Pathanamthitta 19 (12)

Thrissur 19 (15)

Wayanad 12 (10)

Kollam 5 (5)

District-wise breakup of recoveries:

Thiruvananthapuram- 180

Kozhikode -122

Malappuram- 107

Palakkad- 86

Kannur- 64

Alappuzha- 60

Thrissur- 55

Ernakulam 51

Kasargod- 39

Kollam- 27

Pathanamthitta- 26

Idukki- 25

Kottayam- 23

Wayanad- 15

COVID Deaths

Five deaths were confirmed in the state taking the official death toll to 125.

The deceased have been identified as Kasaragod Chalingal native Shamsudheen, 53, Thiruvananthapuram Mariyapuram native Kanakaraj, 50, Ernakulam Ayyambuzha native Mariyamkutty, 77, Kottayam Karappuzha native TK Vasappan, 89, and Kasaragod native Adakunji, 65. Idukki native Ajithan, 55, who passed away earlier have also been tested COVID positive.

Media person tests positive

A driver, who was part of a media team, covering the Pettimudi landslide in Munnar has tested COVID-19 positive. The source of infection has not been traced. He was tested positive in the testing conducted amongst rescue personnel. He is being treated at a COVID First Line Treatment Centre (CFLTC). A list of 26, comprising of his primary contacts including media persons, has been prepared. 12 were tested negative and the rest of the results are yet to arrive.

Key points from CM's speech:

• COVID-19 spread is reducing in Aluva cluster of Ernakulam district, but concern remains on Western Kochi.

• The spread of COVID-19 is diminishing in the coastal area of Thiruvananthapuram. More relaxations will be permitted in the area. All shops selling essential goods may operate from 7am to 3pm.

• One rescue worker in Meppadi tested COVID-19 positive. All rescue workers and political representatives in the area have been asked to go into quarantine.

• COVID-19 tests to be conducted on those engaged in fishing activities.

• Kerala is not compromising on the number of tests conducted, the chief minister said while replying to the allegations raised by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennitahala.

• We once had the best testing statistics in the world. Even after the number of cases surged our state is miles ahead of other Indian states, the CM said. He also highlighted the fact that the state is providing free treatment to COVID patients.

• The police will investigate the phone records of COVID patients to trace contacts. This has been continuing for months now.

59 jail inmates test COVID positive

A day after a 71-year-old remand prisoner in Poojappura Central Jail, Thiruvananthapuram, tested postive for COVID-19, 59 prisoners who shared the same prison block as the 71-year-old have been declared positive on Wednesday.

After this incident, it has been decided to conduct antigen testing in all jails in the state.

Testing and quarantine

A total of 1,51,752 people are under observation in various districts. Of these, 1,39,326 are under home or institutional quarantine and 12,426 are in hospitals.

1,380 people were admitted in hospitals on Monday.

In the last 24 hours 28,644 samples were tested. So far, 10,56,360 samples (including the augmented sample) have been sent for testing. Of these, the test results of 7,313 samples are yet to arrive.

In addition, as part of Sentinel Surveillance, 1,41,283 samples were collected from priority groups, such as health workers, guest workers, social contacts. Of them, 1,049 results are awaited.

On Wednesday, 30 more regions have been converted into hotspots and 13 have been excluded from the list taking the total number of hotspots to 540 in the state.