2 people test positive for for coronavirus in Kerala

Two people, including a UK national,tested positive for Covid-19 in Kerala on Sunday, taking total number of affected to 21 in state as government launched a "break chain" initiative to prevent spre of virus.

Or than UK national, who was mitted to Kalamassery medical college this morning after being offloed from flight to Dubai, a doctor who returned from Spain after studies has also been mitted to isolation ward at medical college hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

"With two new cases, total number of infected persons has gone up to 21. All of m are stable. Italian tourist from Munnar has been hospitalised at Ernakulam and a doctor who reached state from abro after finishing studies, is at Thiruvananthapuram.

We expect flow of foreigners to state to reduce in coming days," Health Minister K K Shailaja told reporters. She said state xpects "our brors who are working abro for ir livelihood" to return to Kerala and ded that department was gearing up to receive m. minister said re were 10,994 people under observation across Kerala, of whom 289 have been lodged in isolation wards in various hospitals.

She also said 10,655 people are under home quarantine. A total of 2,147 blood samples were sent for testing, of which 1,514 results turned out to be negative. minister said health volunteers and police would inspect those who are in home quarantine to ensure that y remain under isolation.

health department also launched a "breaking chain" campaign to encour hand sanitizing among people in order to prevent spre of coronavirus.

"re are chances of virus being spre through our hands. Sanitizing our hands will break chain and prevent spre of virus. We must use hand sanitizers or wash hands with soap and maintain personal hygiene. We need to spre awareness on hand hygiene campaign," Minister said.

Earlier in day, a UK resident was offloed from a Dubai flight after state government informed airport authorities that he h tested positive. He was stopped along with 18 ors of his tourist group at Kochi airport from flying to Dubai after he allegedly jumped quarantine in hill resort town of Munnar, officials said.

foreigner who tested positive and his wife have been mitted to an isolation facility at a nearby government hospital while 17 were sent to a hotel for quarantine after being offloed from flight, state minister V S Sunil Kumar told reporters at airport.

flight carrying 270 passengers left for Dubai at 12.47 PM after 20 passengers were offloed, an airport spokesman said. officials closed down resort, quarantined its employees and steps were taken to identify those who came in contact with tourists in state, officials said. Shailaja dismissed charge of lapses on part of authorities, resulting in a coronavirus positive patient travelling all way to Kochi airport from Munnar, a distance of over 100 kms.

"re are certain protocols in confirming positive cases. We h earlier itself instructed resorts t to leave foreign guests out of resort. But tourists left without informing health officials. Chief Minister has alrey sought a report on matter," she said.

She said incident was an "experience that state has t faced before" as government was "dealing with a never before situation".

Meanwhile, with an increase in number of coronavirus cases, Kerala government on Sunday launched intensified medical check up at 24 spots bordering Tamil Nu and Karnataka for people entering state by rail and ro.  A team heed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) began checking of vehicles coming to state. National Health Mission State Mission Director (SMD) Rathan Kelkar told reporters that response of people toward call for volunteers was "overwhelming". "We needed ditional volunteers for ensuring medical checkups of passengers coming through border. We have received many requests and will provide m appropriate training," Khelkar said.

With 21 confirmed cases of Covid-19, state has enrolled volunteers to assist health department after special training by officials.

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