Thiruvananthapuram, July 06: Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today informed that Kerala has been able to effectively use contact tracing when a person is tested positive for Covid-19. In the State, the source of infection is not known in less than 2% cases only while the national figure is 40%.
Addressing the public through social media due to triple lockdown in the capital city, the Chief Minister said, “Out of the 4,442 cases reported till May, the sources of infection could not be found initially in 116 cases but they were later traced in 125 cases. Investigations are going on to trace the source of infection in the remaining 41 cases also and we are hopeful of doing that in 23 cases where there are leads but in 18 cases, the source may remain unknown. Contact tracing has been made possible due to the exemplary work done by the Health Department, Police and LSG bodies. It goes without saying that we need to strengthen contact tracing. Everyone who goes out should maintain a record of the place they went, the people they met, including the time. This would help in tracing the contacts, in case someone they met turns out to be infected at a later stage.”
The CM also informed that of the 5,429 cases confirmed in Kerala till July 05, 4,755 cases were found in those who came back from outside the State – 3,328 who came from abroad and 1,427 who returned from other states. Malappuram district had the maximum number of 591 such cases followed by 580 in Palakkad district and 485 in Kannur district. Of the 524 cases of local transmission through contact, Kannur district accounted for the maximum of 109 cases followed by 93 in Kasargod district and 72 in Thrissur district.
As a part of strengthening the Covid preventive measures, testing will be increased in places bordering the neighbouring states. Further, daily travel across the State borders would not be permitted. People who go to the neighbouring state for work or come to Kerala for work on a daily basis will have to take up residence at their place of work to avoid daily travel.
The Chief Minister also added that triple lockdown was enforced in Thiruvananthapuram as the number of cases through contact was increasing. Moreover, as the capital city, the presence of a large number of offices and people who come here from other places for official work were the other factors. “We understand the situation is serious here. If it is not controlled now, the situation might get out of control. That’s why triple lockdown was implemented before any community spread. Everyone who has a symptom will be tested. A multi-pronged strategy has been implemented to control the spread of the virus outbreak.”
Meanwhile, based on the review today, the triple lockdown in Ponnani taluk in Malappuram district will end tonight.