Kerala witnesses reverse trend in Covid case reporting after a hiatus

Kochi: Even when global acclaim has reached Kerala for flattening the coronavirus transmission curve, a sudden change in the pattern of reporting new cases and cured patients visible in the last two days in the state are worrying authorities.

Though Kerala has been consistently witnessing considerable decline in the number of fresh cases and more number of recovered patients, the trend has reversed now. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Kerala reported more number of fresh Covid cases than the number of cured persons.  

Contrary to the pattern in recent days, the state registered 19 fresh cases on Tuesday while the number of cured patients was 16. Most of the fresh cases have been reported from Kannur, which is the worst hit area in the state now.

On Wednesday the reverse trend was clear with 11 new cases while the recovered cases were only one.

Since April 2, the number of fresh cases was showing a downward trend with only single digit new cases being reported each day which has changed now.

The total number of Covid cases in Kerala is 437 of whom 308 have been recovered. Two deaths have been reported and the number of active cases under treatment is 127. The total number of people under observation is 29,150.

A major concern of the health authorities is that several foreign returnees have been tested positive for the virus even after completing 25 or 26 days of isolation. Though international flight service was suspended on March 22, many people who reached Kerala from abroad before the suspension of flights are still being tested positive for virus infection.

Talking to media reporters, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that considering the chance for delayed positive cases, steps have been taken to test the samples of all those who returned to the state between March 12 and April 22, including those who are asymptomatic and all people in the high risk contact group.

“The virus transmission is unpredictable and everyone has to strictly follow the restrictions strictly,” the chief minister added.

A major reason cited for the sudden increase in the number of fresh cases is the massive testing.

The government has also made restrictions at the state borders as people travelling to Tamil Nadu have been tested positive. Many Tamil Nadu villages bordering Kerala have reported a high number of Covid cases.