The acclaimed Kerala strategy in containing covid-19 has come under the scanner as the general public in the State is upset over reports of the renewed vigour with which the pandemic has come back to haunt the people. On Friday 111 persons were tested positive for covid-19 while Saturday saw 108 persons testing positive in the State.
The State which had declared in the first week of May that it has managed to flatten the coronavirus is faced with the unenviable task of managing the pandemic which is on the rise again. On Saturday, the number of hotspots in the state shot up to 138.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who opted out from briefing the media on Saturday had warned on Friday that things are going out of control in the State. “Situation has turned serious in the State. This is the first time the State sees the number of positive cases crossing hundred on a single day,” Vijayan had said on Friday.
Dr Ranjit Vijayahari, lead physician keeping track of the progress of the coronavirus in Kerala said the hike in number of positive cases could be the result of ramping up of testing in the State.
“Moreover the number of people afflicted with covid could be due to the spurt in the return of West Asia based expatriates as well as those from outside the State,” said Dr Vijayahari. He also said that the recent developments in the State which saw a Christian priest succumbing to the pandemic signalled the beginning of community transmission.
“The source from where the priest developed the infection remains undetected. If we fail to find out the source of the infection, it is proof of community transmission,” he said.