Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala reported 2,514 new COVID cases and 3,427 recoveries on Thursday.

With this, the number of active COVID cases in the state fell to 26,605.

So far, 51,55,142 have been cured of the disease.

No lull in contact cases

Of the new cases, 2,340 contracted the virus through contact while 18 came from outside the state and 18 are healthcare workers.

A total of 55,631 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts reported the most cases - 458, 369 and 305 respectively.

COVID deaths

A total of 54 COVID deaths too were confirmed on Thursday.

With this, the COVID death toll in the state rose to 45,861.

There are currently 1,31,345 people under observation across the state.

Of them, 1,27,397 are under home or institutional quarantine while 3,948 are in hospitals.

Omicron threat

Kerala reported five more Omicron cases on Thursday.

With this, the total number of Omicron cases in the state soared to 29.

As many as four people, who have reached Ernakulam, and a native of Kozhikode district have been detected with the virus.

All of the infected were under treatment in hospitals and their contact list is being prepared, Health Minister Veena George said.

For more Omicron details, click here

Kerala had reported its first Omicron case on December 12 in a UK returnee in Kochi.

Omicron cases in India

India has recorded 236 Omicron cases across 16 states and UTs, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. Of them, 104 have recovered.

Maharashtra recorded the most cases followed by Delhi. With the recent influx of cases, Kerala is in the top five.

Omicron is a new variant of coronavirus considered more contagious than the others and capable of overwhelming defences provided by known vaccines.

New coronavirus cases in Kerala (district-wise break-up): 

Thiruvananthapuram - 458

Ernakulam - 369

Kozhikode - 305

Kottayam - 258

Thrissur - 192

Kannur - 166

Kollam - 145

Pathanamthitta - 135

Alappuzha - 117

Malappuram - 111

Wayanad - 78

Palakkad - 66

Idukki - 65

Kasaragod - 49

New recoveries in Kerala (district-wise break-up):

Thiruvananthapuram - 841

Kollam - 199

Pathanamthitta - 157

Alappuzha - 72

Kottayam - 197

Idukki - 62

Ernakulam - 593

Thrissur - 183

Palakkad - 60

Malappuram - 165

Kozhikode - 479

Wayanad - 119

Kannur - 248

Kasaragod - 52