Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has broken yet another unwanted barrier with regards to COVID-19 by recording over 50,000 cases on a day.
The health department on Tuesday reported 55,475 fresh cases with a Test Positivity Rate (TPR) at 49.4%. It means almost every second person tested in the state is COVID-positive.
COVID-19-related fatalities crossed 52,141 after 70 recent deaths and 84 previously undocumented ones were made official on the day.
At least 1,12,281 samples were tested in the last 24 hours in Kerala.
It is arguably the first time that all districts in Kerala have recorded at least 1,000 cases on a day. While Ernakulam logged the highest, 9,405, Wayanad had 1,070 fresh infections.
There are 4,42,466 persons under observation in the state, of whom, 4,32,124 are in home/institutional quarantine centres and 10,342 are in hospitals. On Tuesday, 1,387 persons were hospitalised.
Meanwhile, 30,226 recoveries were reported on the day with Ernakulam recording the highest, 8,641 followed by Thiruvananthapuram, 8,267.
Over 500 health workers positive
The trend of rise in cases among healthcare workers has continued with over 500 fresh cases (506) reported in Kerala.
Health Minister Veena George has said that control rooms have been reopened at all medical colleges in the state.
Also an order has been issued for 4,917 appointments in government hospitals to ensure the smooth functioning of COVID control activities.
"All hospitals have been directed to ensure the functioning of an infection control system considering that the virus is spreading rapidly among healthcare workers" said Veena George.
District-wise positive cases
Ernakulam 9405
Thiruvananthapuram 8606
Thrissur 5520
Kollam 4452
Kozhikode 4432
Kottayam 3672
Palakkad 3550
Malappuram 3138
Kannur 2578
Alappuzha 2561
Idukki 2452
Pathanamthitta 2311
Kasaragod 1728
Wayanad 1070