19 coronavirus patients recover in Kerala, only 3 fresh cases reported

For second consecutive day, Kerala on Monday reported more number of COVID-19 patients cured of disease than positive cases, with 19 of m discharged and three being hospitalised.

With three new cases, total number of coronavirus affected people in state is w 378.

"While two people from Kannur tested positive, one case was reported from Palakk. Two of m are primary contacts of infected person and one was a foreign returnee," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters after an evaluation meet.

Out of 19 cured, 12 were from Kasaragod, three each from Pathanamthitta and Thrissur districts, and one from Kannur.

"As of w, state has 178 active cases and at least 1,12,183 persons are under observation, of which 715 are in isolation wards," Vijayan said, ding that 15,683 samples have been sent for testing till w.

He said state has w been testing at least 1,000 samples per day.

Vijayan also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange special flights to bring back those stranded in Gulf.

All international health protocols can be followed while extending this facility, he said in a letter to prime minister.

chief minister said state government would take care of testing and quarantine needs of Keralites after y return.

Vijayan also came down heavily on behaviour of some people who came out of ir homes in large numbers in various parts of state on eve of Vishu (Malayalam new year) and said y "behaved as if lockdown period h ended".

" prime minister will inform people on lockdown tomorrow. Yes, we have less numbers of affected persons se days, but we don't have any option to lower our guard. We cant predict where virus can come up next. re is a need to practice social distancing. re are chances of community spre if we decide to relax restrictions imposed w," Vijayan said.

He even said if certain restrictions are relaxed a bit, "garings cant be allowed in order to prevent community transmission".

Asked about reduction of number of positive cases in Kerala, chief minister said credit goes to people of state who strictly followed lockdown.

"Apart from police, health and or government officials, people of state have played a major role in controlling pandemic. We all kw how difficult it is to sit at home under quarantine. I would like to thank all those who have followed instructions", he said.

chief minister said that closure of schools will t affect students as government has uploed textbooks of class 1 to 10 for Malayalam, English and Kanna medium in state, he said.

Health Minister K K Shailaja said state should continue its vigil against COVID-19 and cautioned that it was t yet time to be “completely relieved” as neighbouring states were seeing a spike in numbers, which was a cause for concern.

"We want to bring down graph of positive cases. That is our effort. We feel our efforts are paying dividends , if we go by results in last few days,” she said.

“However, we cant be completely relieved just because cases in state have dipped. It is t eugh if virus is under control in Kerala. It is a pandemic. cases in our neighbouring states are increasing and that is a cause of concern,” minister told reporters earlier in day.

While Tamil Nu has so far reported 1,075 positive cases and 11 deaths, Karnataka has accounted for 247 cases, which includes six deaths and 59 discharges.

Meanwhile, Police Department registered 2,180 cases on Monday for violating lockdown protocol and arrested 2,042 people.

Kasaragod, hotspot of Kerala, has 85 COVID-19 patients in state followed by neighbouring Kannur with 43 cases.

Malappuram has 10 cases.

Kozhikode district has most number of persons under observation -- 17,407.