Kerala has reported over 30,000 cases for the third day running with positivity rate climbing to 19.22%. In the last 24 hours, the southern state reported 32,801 new cases, 18,573 recoveries and 179 deaths. With this, the total active Covid cases have now gone up to 1,95,254.
Kerala on Thursday recorded 30,007 with the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) rate at18.03%. A day before, the state saw a sudden spike in fresh cases with 31,445 people testing positive and 215 deaths. Consequently, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government on Friday decided to continue with the Sunday lockdown. An exemption was given in the Sunday lockdown in the last two weeks by the state government and the government has also decided to maintain the current Covid-19 restrictions in the state. Taking stock of the COVID-19 situation in Kerala and reviewing steps taken by the state government to contain the spread of the virus, Union Home Secretary suggested the authorities consider imposing night curfews in areas with high COVID-19 cases. However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to stick to his ‘Kerala Model’ which did not fail when the COVID second wave was on its peak. Vijayan further alleged that some people are trying to neglect the facts and “deliberately creating confusion.” Several Opposition leaders have also condemned the government for inappropriate handling of the pandemic.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan, on Thursday, said that the “carelessness” of the Kerala government was the reason for the steep rise in COVID-19 cases and test positivity rate in the state.
