Kerala logs 15,600 new Covid-19 cases

Kochi: Kerala on Wednesday logged 15,600 new Covid-19 cases and a Test Positivity Rate of 10.36 per cent, said the release issued by Health Minister Veena George. The State also saw 143 patients succumbing to the pandemic taking the toll till date to 14,108.

Wednesday’s figures in Kerala are more than what was recorded on Tuesday, (14, 373 cases). While, 1, 50, 630 samples were tested on Wednesday, the State Health Department said it had tested 1, 31,000 samples on Tuesday.

The hike in the number of cases comes at a time when the State Government is slowly and gradually contemplating steps to life the lock down. “We cannot kee on extending the lock down indefinitely.  Now, the ball is in the court of the people. They have to do their part in observing the social distancing and wearing face



masks. 

I find open violation of the restrictions by many people,” said Dr T N Suresh, president, Kerala Government Medical Association, the umbrella organization of all Government Medical Doctors in the State.

He said the Government has done its best. “The hike in the number of cases is the fall out of the lifting of the lock down. This could be controlled only with the active cooperation of the general public,”  the doctor told.

Malappuram  district continues to be the hotspot in Kerala and recorded 2,052 new patients. According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who presided over a review meeting, steps were on to vaccinate all  school and college students in the State as part of the Government’s move to reopen the educational institutions by stages.