7,000 fresh COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days, Kerala saw 4,538 infections on Monday, taking the total affected to 1,78,922, though sample tests showed a decline.
The state had reported 7,445 cases on Sunday and
7,006 on Saturday.
Twenty fatalities pushed the toll to 697.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the scenario in the state was bad as COVID-19 cases were doubling on an average of every 20 days.