The two-day total lockdown enforced in the State on Saturday and Sunday has played a significant role in bringing down the number of newly diagnosed Covid-19 cases in Kerala.
The release issued by the office of the Health Minister said that by Monday evening, 8,037 people had been diagnosed with Covid-19 while the pandemic claimed 102 lives. A total of 80,134 samples were tested. There were 1,00,626 Covid-19 patients across Kerala as on Monday evening.
A senior official of the department of health said on Monday that though the dip in the number of new cases was a welcome sign, the administration is worried over the high Test Positivity Rate which refuses to come below the 10 per cent mark. “Ours is the State with the highest TPR and number of new daily cases and this is a matter of concern,” said the official who did not want his name to be quoted.
The total lock down declared in the State on weekends is likely to be continued till the situation shows further improvement, said the official.
“The Chief Minister is holding review meetings on a daily basis to take stock of the situation. While there may not be further relaxation of the regulations which are in force, chances of more stringent rules could not be ruled out,” he said.