Kerala clamps Section 144 to curb heavy COVID caseload
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala on Friday recorded 9,258 positive cases and 4,092 recoveries, the highest single day spike and recoveries respectively, as the government decided to prohibit assembly of more than five people to control the spread of the virus.
The infection count touched 2,12,499 on Friday while the death toll rose to 791 with 20 new fatalities. In the last 24 hours, 63,175 samples have been tested and so far 30,49,791 samples have been sent for testing. Four districts reported over 1,000 cases, the highest from Kozhikode 1,146, Thiruvananthapuram 1,096, Ernakulam 1,042 and Malappuram 1,016, while Kollam accounted for 892 cases and Thrissur 812. While 77,482 people are presently under treatment, 1,35,144 have recovered, Health Minister KK Shailaja said. Of the positive cases, 8,274 were infected through contact and the source of infection 657 is not known, while 47 had come from abroad and 184 from other states, she said. 93 health workers are also infected.
Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta on Thursday had stated that section 144 CrPC would be imposed from Saturday as gatherings pose an impending danger of a super spread of the infection. The state has been witnessing a steep rise in cases since the past few days.
Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said each district collector will take a decision with regard to the prohibitory order depending on the situation in their respective districts.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry said that 78.07 per cent of the 81,484 new cases reported are concentrated in 10 states and UTs -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Delhi and Chhattisgarh.