More than 1,000 new patients joined the army of Covid-19 affected persons in Kerala on Wednesday.
“Today has turned out to be a crucial day in Kerala. We diagnosed 1,038 persons with Civid-19 and this is the highest number of patients identified on a single day since the first coronavirus case was detected in the State in the month of March,” said Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala.
The Chief Minister said he may have to think seriously about the proposal for another round of total lockdown in the State as this is the first time Kerala sees the Covid-19 cases breaching the 1,000 mark. Vijayan blamed a section of the media and certain political outfits for spreading fake news and lies for the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
“Out of the 1.038 persons tested positive today, 785 were infected through contacts which reiterates that the people have to be careful in their dealings,” the CM said.
He said the entire coastal stretch of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam have been shut down because of the hike in the number of persons afflicted with the pandemic.
Thiruvananthapuram continued to lead the table with the highest number of coronavirus cases. The district tested 226 new cases out of which 190 were infected through contacts, he said. Vijayan also pointed out that in all the districts in the State, the pandemic has spread through contacts.
But the Chief Minister said that Kerala stands in the forefront of the States and has earned all round appreciation from global bodies. “While the national average for covid cases per million is 419, Kerala is less than half of this figure. There is an attempt by many persons and entities to portray Kerala in poor light,” said the Chief Minister.
As on Wednesday evening, there were 15,032 Covid-19 patients in the State. “There are more than 9,000 persons undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kerala. Today, 1,164 patients have been admitted to hospitals because of Covid-29,” he said.
Life has come a full circle in Kerala which was praised by some media houses in the country and abroad for “effective measures” adopted by the CPI(M)-led Government in the State. But as on Wednesday, the Chief Minister himself disclosed that the situation in the State has become a matter of concern.