11 new cases, Kerala prepares for a wave

nTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM:KERALA has reported 11 new coronavirus cases, said state health minister K K Shailaja Saturday adding the third phase of the pandemic is really critical for the state. The state has expected a sharp increase in cases with the exodus from the Middle-east and other parts of the country.

Of the 587 cases, 87 are active and the government has declared more areas in north Kerala’s Wayanad and Kasaragod districts as hot spots. Two super spreaders have changed the status of these districts -- a truck driver came from Chennai’s Koyembedu vegetable market had transmitted the disease to 10 persons Wayanad and a CPI(M) leader who crossed over to Karnataka discreetly returned and infected eight persons, said health officials.

“We can see slackness on the part of many when we relaxed norms. It is not good. We have to be more vigilant now. Third phase is really critical for the state,” said the minister. Kerala is the first state in the country to report a virus case in January last, a China-returned medical student. The second phase was in March first week when some who came from abroad jumped the home quarantine and infected many. With its track, trace and treat methodology, the state had successfully contained the virus in first two stages.

At least 3750 people returned in 17 flights and 3 ships to the state in last one week from the Gulf and Maldives. Similarly 40,000 people stranded in other parts of the country returned in last 10 days. The state pressed the emergency button as the exodus of expatriates from Middle-eastern countries began. Among the last 80 cases at least 60% are imported.