The day after the subdued celebrations of Ramzan, 49 persons tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala. A release issued by the Government of Kerala said that the number of hotspots in the State rose to 59. The new hotspots include Pinarayi, the native town of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kannur district.
As on Monday, there are 359 persons undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the State. Kasaragod topped the list of districts with highest number of patients. There were 14 new cases reported from the northern most district of Kerala.
What is of interest is the news that out of the 49 persons tested positive on Monday, 43 were those who reached the State after the relaxation of the lockdown laws. While 18 persons were expatriates who reached the State following the Vande Bharat Mission, 25 were those who returned from other States in the country.
Another cause of concern for the authorities is the public examination for SSLC and Plus Two class students in the State numbering 13 lakhs.
The hotspots host many examination centres and this has put the health of thousands of students at stake. More than 99,000,00 persons are under observation in Kerala.
Hundreds of migrant workers in Pathanamthitta laid siege to the district committee of the CPI(M) on Monday demanding travelling facilities to return to their home States. “We do not have work and hence we are not getting paid. No food is being supplied by the administration and we are in real trouble.
The Government should make arrangements for sending us back to our States,” said many workers while speaking to channel reporters. Later, the police drove them off as part of enforcing the social distance norms and wearing face masks.