Kerala’s post-Onam COVID surge: Over 31k cases, 215 deaths, TPR 19%
Kerala on Wednesday evening reported 31,445 fresh COVID-19 cases and 215 deaths, pushing the total infection count to 38,83,429 and the fatalities to 19,972 till date in the state.
The last time the State crossed the 30,000-mark was on May 20 when it witnessed 30,491 cases. The test positivity rate (TPR) on Wednesday crossed the 19 per cent mark, according to an official press release.
The Centre’s data at 8 am in the morning showed Kerala recording 24,296 positive cases during last 24 hours as against country’s count os 37,593, an increase from previous days. With the evening figures showing another huge spike, Kerala will remain the highest contributor to the tally. After the Onam festivities, medical experts predicted that the TPR would go beyond 20 per cent and that the number of infections would rise further. Since July 27 after the Bakrid celebrations when restrictions were relaxed for a few days, the State has been reporting more than or close to 20,000 cases almost every day.
The Health Ministry data at 8 am on Wednesday, also showed 648 (Kerala 173) new fatalities pushed the cumulative toll to 4,35,758. Total caseload in the country climbed to 3,25,12,366 including 3,22,327 active cases. Earlier on August 16, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Kerala and discussed the public health response to COVID-19 in the state with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Health Minister Veena George.
As a part of the ongoing vaccination drive in the country, the total beneficiaries vaccinated across the country reached 59,55,04,593 including 61,90,930 who received shots in the last 24 hours.