11 new cases, Kerala prepares for a wave

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 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 slack on part of many when we relaxed norms. We have to be more vigilant now. Third phase is really critical for the state,” said the minister.