Highest single-day spike of 138 COVID-19 cases in Kerala

Raising serious apprehensions over the rapidly escalating number of imported cases, another 138 people tested positive for novel coronavirus in Kerala on Monday, the highest single-day spike reported from the state. Among the 138 cases, 87 came from abroad, 47 arrived from other states and four got infected from their contacts.

With this, the total number of virus infected in the state increased to 3310. The number of active cases is 1540 and the number of casualties is 21. For the fourth day in a row, the number of new cases has gone beyond the 100 mark.

There has been steady increase in the number of infections since the state opened its borders for non-resident Keralites. The Kerala model of flattening the virus transmission curve which attained global acclaim witnessed a reversal when expatriates from different countries and states started reaching the state from the second week of May.

Though the number of fresh cases is going northward, the health authorities assess the situation as not alarming as most of the positive are returnees from other states and countries and were in quarantine. The health authorities are concerned of the infection through local contact and cases with unknown sources of infection. As per the health department authorities’ assessment, the number of fresh cases will go up considerably in coming weeks as more Vande Bharat Mission flights are expected to arrive. There has been an increase in the number of NRKs arriving from other states as well.

Health minister K. K Shylaja had earlier said that a big surge in the number of fresh cases was expected and the escalating numbers are not a big concern. And the rate of infection through local contact is very low in the state because of the strict quarantine measures.