Covid cases in Kerala not decline; what CM Vijayan said

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said lack of a dipin COVID-19 cases in the State when compared to other States was not a cause for concern or fear as things are under control. He said the endeavour of the State from the beginning was to protect as many people as possible from being infected or succumbing to the virus until the vaccine was available for all.

“Many are wondering as to why the number of patients in Kerala has not decreased. This comes as no surprise when examined in terms of public health principles. We can confidently say there is no need to be fearful and that things are under control,” he told reporters. He said the Delta variant which has a higher chance of spreading struck Kerala during the second wave of COVID-19 and that the number of people infected by it increased because of the huge population in the State.

“In addition, the disease spreads rapidly across the State due to the interconnectedness of rural and urban areas,” he said. Since people already infected by COVID and those who have been vaccinated have limited immunity against the Delta variant, it can lead to infection recurring in those infected in the past, he said. “Many of those who are now positive fall into these categories. It is reassuring that they have no serious symptoms and no risk of death,” he said.

He said the sero prevalence study of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at the end of the first wave revealed the prevalence rate in Kerala was only about half (11.4) compared to other States (21.6). “Therefore, the infections in the second wave were higher. Consequently, the number of tests has also increased,” he said.

He further said the study found 70 to 80 per cent of people in many cities in country were infected. The Chief Minister said though the number of infections is not going down, restrictions like lockdown cannot be continued indefinitely and things need to go back to normal as soon as possible. That is why the restrictions are being eased or phased out.

However, the relaxations should not be misused or abused by people by not following COVID-appropriate behaviour like wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing, he said and added that overcrowding should be avoided.

He further said the State has been able to provide appropriate treatment to patients in hospitals and ICUs even when the number of cases was high and even then, more than 60 -70 per cent of COVID hospital beds were never used. “About 90 per cent of the total patients are being treated free of cost in government hospitals. This is an achievement no other State has achieved,” he said.