Despite strict regulations slapped on movement of people across the State, Saturday saw 18,531 new persons getting diagnosed with Covid-19 in Kerala out of the 1.55 lakh samples tested during the last 24 hours.
A release issued by the Health Minister’s office said that 98 patients succumbed to the pandemic taking the death toll till date to 15,969. The State’s average Test Positivity Rate (TPR) showed 11.91 percent while there are 271 places across Kerala which have TPR of 15 per cent and above.
Dr P Gopikumar, secretary, Indian Medical Association’s Kerala wing told The Pioneer that the home quarantine and isolation of persons tested positive was no more paying the desired results.
“The virus causing Covid-19 detected during the second wave of attack has been found to be more powerful than the earlier version. Now what has happened is that the other members of the family where the patient is put in quarantine or isolation too get afflicted with the pandemic and this does not augur well,” said Dr Gopikumar.
He said the IMA has asked the State Government to shift all the persons who test positive to either community living centres or First Line Treatment Centres foe which there are no dearth in Kerala.
“Ill not go to the extent of telling that the situation was alarming. We, the IMA has asked the Government to reschedule the lock down mode and allow shops and business establishments to function on all days. But the crowd restrictions should be enforced strictly,” said Dr Gopikumar.
But senior Government physicians said the situation in Kerala was a cause for concern. “It has been found that the pandemic is spreading much faster than the initial phases. Kerala has become an epicenter of Covid-19 and there are no restrictions on movement of people, Public transport, especially buses and whatever trains that ply are filled to capacity. There is no reduction in traffic blocks even in small towns,” said a senior Government physician in Ernakulam.
Both Dr Gopikumar and the Government physician were on the same page regarding their word of caution to people in other States who are planning to visit the State. “Kerala is not safe for a holiday trip. It is safe and better to postpone the scheduled journey to the State lest the travelers end up as victims of the pandemic,” they said in unison.
There are four districts in the State each showing more than 2,000 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday while there were three districts each logging more than 1,000 cases.