62 more Covid-19 cases in Kerala; no need to panic says CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan reiterated that the increase in number of Covid-19 cases these days should not be treated as a panic situation in the state. ``Kerala has the lowest test positive rate and case fatality rate in the country and hence there is no need for any concern,'' he said.
As many as 62 more new cases were reported in the state on Friday of which 33 people had come from abroad and 23 people had come from other states.One death was also reported from Kottayam of a Thiruvalla native Joshy Mathew who had come from Sharjah. With this nine deaths have occurred in the state due to Covid-19.
Among the new cases reported it included two remand prisoners from Thiruvananthapuram, two cabin crew members of Air India and a health worker. One person got infected through contact.
With this 1150 cases have been reported in the state till date of which there are 577 active cases admitted in various hospitals. Now Palakkad has 117 active cases followed by Kannur with 99 active cases, Kasargod has 64 cases, Malappuram has 56 cases and Thiruvananthapuram has 41 active cases.
Of the 62 new positive cases 14 are from Palakkad, seven from Kannur, six from Thrissur, five each from Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Malappuram, four each from Ernakulam and Kasaragod, three from Alappuzha, two each from Kollam and Wayanad, one each from Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode and two Air India cabin crew members.
At present 124167 persons are placed under surveillance, out of which 123087 are under home or institutional quarantine and 1080 are admitted in designated isolation facilities. Till date 62746 samples (including augmented samples) have been sent for testing out of which 60448 came as negative. Apart from above, 11468 samples were taken from priority groups like health care workers, persons with high social exposure, workers etc. as part of sentinel surveillance of which 10635 samples tested negative.
Meanwhile test results of 10 Covid-19 patients under treatment have been declared negative. Of which five are from Wayanad, three are from Kannur (2 Kozhikode natives) and one each from Malappuram and Kasaragod have been declared negative.
With the number of cases increasing in different districts 22 more new hotspots have been declared in the state. With this the total number of hotspots have become 101.