Kochi: Even as Kerala is witnessing flattening of the coronavirus infection curve with very few fresh cases and 56.3 per cent recovery rate, the health authorities are worried over the phenomenon of ‘delayed positive cases’.
Recently, many cases were reported in the state in which those returning from abroad tested positive several days after the 14 days incubation period.
Though the World Health Organisation has prescribed 14 days of isolation, more than 20 cases have been reported in Kerala in which foreign returnees under quarantine were tested positive even after 20 to 25 days.
This phenomenon of delayed development of symptoms raises questions over the efficacy of 14 days incubation period.
Though the health experts are not providing a conclusive reason for the delay in testing positive, some of the reasons cited are the possibility for changes in the incubation period and very mild symptoms which might not be usually noticed.
Usually, foreign-returned persons are being tested only if they have symptoms like high body temperature, cough or throat pain.
Few cases have also been reported from the state wherein persons exhibiting no symptoms have been tested positive for the virus infection. A study has already been initiated on the silent carriers of the virus who have no foreign travel history.
Meanwhile, the state government has extended the quarantine period to 28 days considering the possibility for many asymptomatic persons under quarantine could be infected.
Since extensive studies are yet to be done on the novel coronavirus, it is too early to conclude that the virus’ incubation period is 14 days and there can be changes in its pattern, according to medical experts.
Single new case, 7 recovered
Only a single Covid 19 case was reported from Kerala on Wednesday while seven patients have been recovered and discharged from hospital. The fresh case has been reported from Kannur.
It was on March 19 that Kerala reported single new case last time. Since then the number witnessed a steady increase and the graph started to go down since the first week of April.
