Kerala's COVID-19 tally crosses 20,000 mark; Toll climbs to 67

Kerala reported its highest single day spike of 1,167 COVID-19 cases so far of 1167, taking infection tally to 20,894 while death toll climbed to 67 with four more fatalities on Tuesday.

Thirtythree health workers were among infected and active cases stood at 10,091 while 679 people were discharged on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

At Kinfra Park in Menamkulam here around 300 people were tested and 88 of m found positive for virus, he said.

Dismissing allegations that several COVID-19 deaths were t being reported in state, he said state government has been declaring fatalities as per guidelines issued by World Health Organisation.

"As per guidelines, it's a COVID death when a person dies due to severe coronavirus infection fatally affecting his organs. If a COVID patient dies in an accident or commits suicide or is drowned, it's t a COVID death," he said.

expert panel of health department will take decision.

Of fresh cases, a total of 888 were infected through contacts while source of infection of 55 people was t yet kwn, he told reporters here.

While 122 people h come from abro, as many as 96 returned to Kerala from or states.

four deaths were reported from Ernakulam, Kasaragod, Alappuzhaand Thiruvananthapuram districts, Vijayan said.

Over 1.56 lakh people were under observation.

Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Malappuram and Thrissur districts recorded over 100 cases on Tuesday and re were 486 hotspots in state.

In last 24 hours, 19,140 samples were tested, taking cumulative to 3,62,210specimens. Results were awaited for 6,596 samples.

Thiruvananthapuram with 227 cases on Tuesday topped districts in fresh infections, followed by Kottayam 118, Malappuram 112 and Thrissur 109.