Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala recorded 14,539 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday after testing 1,39,049 samples, taking the Test Positivity Rate to 10.46 per cent.
With 10,331 more recovering from the infection, the number active patients in the state reached 1,15,174, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said during his sunset Covid briefing.
With 124 more deaths being confirmed due to the disease, the State's toll rose to 14,810. Though more deaths were reported, the state is yet to ascertain them as COVID deaths. Tests are underway at the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha.
Of the new cases, 13,582 had contracted the virus through contact while 67 had come from outside the state. Among the contact cases, the source of infection of 828 is yet to be traced.
There are 62 health workers among the new cases.
The state has reported 30,87,673 COVID-19 cases so far. Of them, 29,57,201 recovered.
Here's the break-up of today's positive cases:
Malappuram - 2,115
Ernakulam - 1,624
Kollam - 1,404
Thrissur - 1,364
Kozhikode - 1,359
Palakkad - 1,191
Thiruvananthapuram - 977
Kannur - 926
Alappuzha - 871
Kottayam - 826
Kasaragod - 657
Pathanamthitta - 550
Wayanad - 436
Idukki - 239
Recoveries:
Thiruvananthapuram - 754
Kollam - 830
Pathanamthitta - 382
Alappuzha - 668
Kottayam - 473
Idukki - 276
Ernakulam - 634
Thrissur - 1,326
Palakkad - 1,056
Malappuram - 1,566
Kozhikode - 1,176
Wayanad - 239
Kannur - 631
Kasaragod - 320
Key points from CM's briefing:
• The average TPR of last three days is 10.5% in the State.
• TPR higher in northern districts
• Local bodies have been split into A, B, C D categories. The restrictions will continue
• In Kozhikode, shop owners had protested but their demands cannot be met right now due to the present circumstances. District collector and District police chief will hold meetings with shop owners to make them aware of the situation.
• A mega testing drive will be conducted. At least 2.5 lakh tests will be performed on Thursday and Friday. Ward-level rapid response teams will be strengthened.
• After two-three weeks, Onam shopping will begin. However, restrictions must be strictly followed.
• Third wave is knocking on the doors. It is a critical phase.
• Local bodies have been told to take create awareness about Zika virus. There are indications that Dengue cases are also increasing.
Testing and quarantine
Till Tuesday, 2,46,48,919 samples (including routine, airport surveillance, pooled sentinel, CBNAAT, TrueNAT, CLIA and antigen assay) were sent for testing.
A total of 3,82,260 people are under observation across the state. Of them, 3,57,751 are under home or institutional quarantine while 24,509 are in hospitals across the state. A total of 1,785 people were admitted in hospitals on Tuesday.
There are 86 local bodies in the state where the TPR is lower than 5%. In 382 regions, TPR is between 5% and 10%, 370 regions under 10-15% TPR category, 196 regions where TPR is above 15%.
