The efforts of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to contain COVID-19 transmission has started yielding results as the number of new persons tested positive for the pandemic came down to 12,300 on Monday. Though the fatality rate was on the higher side as the pandemic claimed 174 lives, the Test Positivity Rate dipped to 13.77 per cent on Monday, according to a release issued by the department of health.
On Monday, 89, 345 samples were tested for the pandemic . While 56 health workers were afflicted with the disease, the number of patients in the State undergoing treatment too came down to 2,06, 982.
The flattening of the COVID-19 curve in the State made Pinarayi Vijayan to write chief ministers of 11 non-BJP ruled States suggesting a joint action against the Centre demanding immediate procurement of vaccines and financial packages. The Kerala strongman, with his eyes set on the 2024 Lok Sabha election reminded the 11 chief ministers that the Centre should provide vaccines to all States free of cost. He said vaccine manufacturers were not interested in responding to the global tenders floated by the States for direct supply of vaccine.
Vijayan had said in a recent press briefing that Kerala would float global tenders for procuring vaccines directly from foreign countries. His Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin too had said that he would contact foreign companies for the same. Since the efforts to procure vaccines directly by the States have failed, Vijayan said a joint agitation by non-BJP chief ministers including Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee was the only option now.