Kochi: Kerala on Tuesday again registered a spike in new Covid-19 cases reporting 7,354 fresh infections, taking the state caseload to 1,86,276.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 3,420 patients tested negative today, taking the total number of those cured in the state to 1,24,688.
"Currently, there are 61,791 persons under treatment in Kerala.At least 2,36,960 are under observation in the state out of which 28,702 persons are in isolationwards of various hospitals," Vijayan said after an all-party-meeting to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the state.
He said the state has tested at least 52,755 samples in the last 24 hours.
Malappuram reported 1,040 positive cases today,Thiruvananthapuram 935,Ernakulam 859 and Kozhikode 837.
Out of those infected today, 7,036 contracted the disease through their contacts among which sources of 672 persons are yet to be identified, Vijayan said.
He said 130 health workers were also among the infected.
Break-up of fresh cases in other districts today: Kollam 583,Alappuzha 524, Thrissur 484, Kasaragod 453, Kannur 432, Palakkad 374, Kottayam 336, Pathanamthitta 271, Wayand 169 and Idukki 57.
While 11 regions were categorised as hotspots on Tuesday, ten regions were omitted from the listl taking the total number to 661.
Thiruvananthapuram currently has10,405 patients under treatment, Ernakulam 7,084,Kozhikode 6,634,Kollam 5,307 and Malappuram 5,257.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Tuesday requested the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to declare a health emergency in the state.
IMA said that in the last 28 days Covid-19 was confirmed in more than one lakh people in Kerala, and in this backdrop, there needs to be systematic coordination between various departments to tackle the emerging Covid situation in the state in an efficient manner.
"There is a lack of effective coordination between various departments. A coordination committee should be formed including professional organisations like IMA," it said.
IMA also demanded that Covid-19 testing should be increased in the state.
"Only by testing and isolating those infected with the virus a community spread can be avoided. The testing should be increased up to one lakh a day," it stated.