COVID outbreak: Collector, 7 doctors, two senior IPS officers quarantined; two fresh cases in Kerala

A district collector, two senior IPS officers and seven doctors were among those who have been quarantined on a day when two fresh cases were reported, taking total number of COVID-19 cases to 497, even as Kerala me masks mandatory in public places and booked over 900 people on Thursday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said cases were registered against 954 people on first day for failing to wear masks. While 14 people were declared cured of infection, two new cases were reported on Thursday.

Fortynine staff, including 7 doctors and 16 nurses, of a private hospital have been vised to go into quarantine after two positive cases were reported from Neyyattikara in Thiruvananthapuram, while in ar hospital , where positive patient h taken treatment, 29 health workers are under observation.

A case has been registered against Attingal MP oor Prakash for taking part in a food-kit distribution organised by 'Lawyers Congress' without maintaining social distancing as part of health protocol. Police said case was registered against Congress MP, a few lawyers and around 50 ors for garing in a public place without ensuring social distancing.

However, Prakash told media that case was an act of political vengeance. Congress party protested against registration of case against its MP and said state Minister Kakampally Surendran h also recently participated in a similar event where many were present, but he h gone scotfree.

Asked about registration of case against Congress leers, Chief Minister Vijayan said he h t come across any such reports. re were 70 hotspots in state and in Kasaragod district collector and two IGPs are under quarantine after y h come in contact with a journalist who h tested positive on Wednesday.

Strict lockdown restrictions would be implemented in areas marked as red spot districts and hotspots.

" two new cases are from Malappuram and Kasaragod. One person reached from Maharashtra and or person was a contact of an affected person. Till w 497 people have contracted disease and currently 111 people are under treatment," Vijayan told reporters after a daily COVID-19 evaluation meet. At least 3.53 lakh people have registered in RKA website for expatriates to return to state, once Centre decides to operate flights.

"As per latest numbers, 3,53,468 people have registered from 201 countries in RKA website to return to state. Most number of registration is from UAE--1.53 lakh. Over 47,000 have registered from Saudi Arabia while 2,112 have registered from UK, 1,895 from USA and 1764 from Ukraine," Vijayan said.

state government will handover priority list to Centre and embassies so as to devise a plan to bring m back.

A total of 94,483 Keralites from or states have also registered in RKA website to return to state.

Over 4 000 cases were registered for violating lockdown restrictions and police recorded arrest of 4,071 people.

In capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, few areas under Neyyattinkara municipality has been declared as a hotspot after two positive cases were reported on Wednesday. As per latest medical bulletin issued on Thursday, a total of 20,711 people are under observation in state with 426 in isolation wards of various hospitals. state has till w sent 25,973 samples for testing.

Kannur distirct in state has 47 positive cases whereas re are 18 positive cases in Kottayam. Idukki has reported 14 cases while Kollam 12 cases.

Im Credit: PTI