As the number of Covid-19 patients in Kerala crossing the 72,000 mark by Wednesday, the Indian Medical Association has issued a note of caution of an impending hike in the pandemic. According to the latest data released by KK Shylaja, Minister for Health, the Test Positivity Rate in the State as on Wednesday was 11.07 per cent while 5,659 new patients were diagnosed with the pandemic on a single day.Though all States are registering a drastic reduction in the number of patients diagnosed with Covid-19, situation in Kerala is alarming, warns the IMA which has called for stringent preventive measures to check the pandemic.
A joint statement signed by Dr Rajiv Jayadevan, former president of IMA, Dr T V Ravi and Dr Atul Manual, office bearers of the Kerala chapter, says that Kerala has the highest per centage of Covid-19 patients in the country. “It is with concern we are watching the hike in the TPR on a daily basis while the Intensive Care Units in hospitals across the State are getting filled up to capacity. The situation calls for emergency measures as the State is on the verge of a third wave of attack by the pandemic,” said the doctors.
Ernakulam, the travel hub of Kerala, showed the highest number of new cases on Wednesday. The district recorded 879 new patients on a single day as ambulances wailing with the unique covid-19 sirens transported patients from remote areas in the district to Ernakulam Medical College at Kalamassery.
Speaking to The Pioneer , Dr Jayadevan said the Covid-19 pandemic was like the secondary school leaving certificate examination. “You write the examination and wait for two months for the result to be published. This is the case with Covid-19,” he said.
Social distancing protocol and other preventive measures in the State are being violated openly as Kerala is getting ready for the assembly election, the schedule for which could be announced any time from now by the Election Commission of India.
The doctors pointed out the example of Britain which relaxed the safety measures once the pandemic curve came down for a brief period. “They did away with steps like social distancing and now the country is paying the price for callousness. Britain may have to be under lockdown mode for months but we in Kerala are not in a position to afford another lockdown,” said the statement.
The doctors asked the State administration to go for strict measures to regulate the pandemic in the coming weeks by asking the general people to avoid all kinds of social gatherings.
There is no option other than sacrificing the personal conveniences and comforts by staying away from social meetings. This is the price which we have to pay for the well being of the society,” said the doctors.