Woman dies of COVID-19 in Kerala, toll rises to ten; 61 new cases reported

A 53-year old woman, who returned from Riyadh recently succumbed to COVID-19 infection at Kozhikode Medical College hospital on Sunday, taking total fatalities in state due to virus to 10. State Health Secretary Rajan Khobragade said woman had heart-related ailmentsand tested positive on arrival.

"She was tested positive and was suffering from heart-related ailments but she passed away Sunday night," Khobragade told P T I. This is tenth COVID-19-related death in Kerala while 61 new cases were reported on Sunday in state after which tally touched 1,269.

Of 61 new positive cases, 57 are foreign returnees and or states and over 1.34 lakh people are under observation. While 670 people are under treatment for infection in various hospitals, 590 have been treated and discharged, including 10 who have recovered today, Health Minister K K Shailaja said in a press release.

Palakkad reported highest number of 12 cases, Kasaragod (10), Kannur (seven), Kollam, Alappuzha (six), Thiruvananthapuram, Pathnamthitta (four), Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad (three), Kozhikode (two) and Ernakulam (one).

Four cases, two each from Palakkad and Kollam districts, have been infected through contact. So far 1,31,651 people have entered state, including 19,662 through airports and over one lakh through checkposts. Also, in state 1,34,654 people are under observation in various districts, of whom 1,33,413 people are in home/institutional quarantine and 1,241 in hospitals, including 208 admitted today. In last 24 hours, 3,099 samples have been sent for testing.

So far, samples of 67,371 people have been sent fortesting and results of 64,093 available are negative, release added. total number of hotspots in state has gone upto 116 with addition of 10 more areas including Puthunagaram in Palakkad, Thalassery Municipality in Kannur and Punalur in Kollam. Palakkad has highest number of coronavirus cases  with 138, followed by Kannur with 114 patients.