No fresh cases in Kerala, monitoring of people reaching by road & rail to be strengthened:CM Pinarayi Vijayan

fresh cornavirus cases were reported in Kerala on Saturday, as government decided to strengn monitoring of people who reach state by rail and ro, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Vijayan, who chaired daily evaluation meet here, told reporters that a total of 302 people are in isolation wards in hospitals across state.

"A total of 7,677 people are under observation in state, out of which 7,375 people are under home quarantine and 302 are in isolation wards across state. Out of total of 1,897 samples sent for testing, 1,345 tested negative," Chief Minister said. Coronavirus care centres would be set up near airports in state, he said.

restrictions imposed have succeeded in limiting spre to a certain extent, Vijayan said, ding that a set of volunteers would be enrolled to aid health department and y would be given special training by officials. "A special team will monitor all passengers of inter-state trains at first station inside Kerala borders.

team will comprise one paramedical staff, a policeman and a local volunteer and y can examine two bogies at a time. For example,if re are 12 bogies for a train,re will be six such teams to examine all passengers," Vijayan said. train passengers would also get an SMS alert, saying y would be checked at first station train touches after entering Kerala.

state government has also identified 24 points in border ro areas of Kerala from rth to south and a separate team, heed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) will monitor those who travel by vehicles. "We kw that all se restrictions pose so much trouble to people. But since we are going through an extraordinary situation,we request everyone to cooperate with officials.

It's in best interests of state and people," Vijayan said. Chief Minister said government would also instruct state-run transport services to clean buses and maintain hygiene. "We have asked officials to visit migrant labour camps in state and create awareness among m by using those who can speak ir langu.

We have also given instructions to keep ir localities clean," Vijayan said. Private hospitals have been asked to set aside a certain number of beds in case of an emergency. "We are in process of arranging more medical equipment for this purpose," Chief Minister ded.

With three positive coronavirus cases being reported from state capital, including an Italian who was staying at a resort at Varkala beach, Kerala government Saturday imposed restrictions on visitors' entry at malls, gyms and beaches and warned people t to venture out of ir homes,unless needed. Health department officials have instructed resort to shut down and employees have been kept under observation.

government has also directed resorts in district t to allow foreign tourists staying re to venture out. Though Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought shutting down of liquor and bevers outlets, government said it was t practical as re was a possibility of people going in search of spurious products.

Bevers outlets will t be closed as of w. So far 19 people have tested positive for virus, including three from Thiruvananthapuram. government h earlier shut schools and colleges and cancelled all public functions to prevent spre of coronavirus.

However, 10th standard, plus two and vocational higher secondary school exams are being held. Examinations of various universities will commence from Monday. Kerala has been hit by second round of Covid 19 cases after country's first three positive cases in state were successfully cured and discharged from hospitals last month.