Seven new cases in Kerala, total cases touch 20

Seven people including three who h arrived from Abu Dhabi on May 7 in repatriation flight from gulf sector, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, taking total number of people under treatment for virus in Kerala to 20.

With this, five foreign returnees who reached state from gulf as part of centre's 'Vande Matram' to bring back stranded Indians and expatriates in or countries,especially GCC, due to COVID-19 lockdown, has reached five.

Days after state h declared that it h flattened curve, new cases were being reported.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, h on Saturday said new cases were a "warning to those coming back from abro and for or states to beon alert."

Of seven fresh cases, three are from Wayan, two from Thrissur and one each from Ernakulam and Malappuram, State Health Minister K K Shailaja said.

"Two from Thrissur and one person from Malappuram reached state on May 7 in Abu Dhabi flight. Two persons from Wayan contracted disease through contact and one patient in Wayan and one in Ernakulam h reached state from Chennai," Shailaja said in a press release.

Four positive cases were cured on Sunday and two are from Kannur and one each from Palakk and Kasaragod.

"With this, Kasaragod, which was once hotspot of COVID-19 in Kerala has become free of positive cases w. Of total 512 positive cases,489 people have been cured and discharged and currently 20 are under treatment in various districts," minister said.

RE | Kerala Govt Orders Complete Shutdown On Sundays Until Furr Orders Amid COVID-19 Crisis

As per latest medical bulletin, at least 26,712 are under observation out of which 362 are in isolation wards of various hospitals across state.

health department also informed that state has till w sent 37,464 samples for testing. As of w, re are 33 hotspots in Kerala.

Presently,Wayan has seven patients, which is highest in state followed by Kollam, Kannur and Ernakulam with three each cases.

Thrissur has two cases and Malappuram and Kozhikode have one case each.

Kerala was among first states in India to report dely virus infection, but it has also earned global praise for having effectively tackled crisis by being among states with much higher recovery rates and much less spre so far.

For several days in recent weeks, state h reported eir nil or just 1-2 fresh cases. state has also reported three deaths so far.

Meanwhile, shops were shut in Kerala and vehicles were off ros, as part of Sunday lockdown imposed by state government. Essential services were allowed to function.

RE | Kerala Launches 'Ente Sweet Challenge' Campaign To Energise Teens Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

RE | Kerala CM Makes It Mandatory For All Who Come From Red Zone To Be Quarantined For 14 Days