New Delhi, Apr 12: Ramping up efforts to "stamp out" coronavirus cases in the state, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has said that not only lockdown but intense testing of people and tracing of their contacts are also equally important in the fight against the outbreak.
Kerala, which was the first state in the country to report a coronavirus infection in late January, has also prepared a time table for coming out of the lockdown and there would be district-specific strategies to tackle the situation while the number of cases are on the decline.
In efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections, the country is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 and many states have sought an extension amid rising number of cases. Kerala has proposed extending the lockdown and gradual phasing out after proper assessment.
"Lockdown should go on till we stamp out entire infections. Now, it is not enough to have lockdown. Equally important is that we should have intense testing, tracing and isolating (of people with coronavirus infections)," he said in a telephonic interview.
The government is closely monitoring the situation and there would be region-specific or district-specific strategies in place to tackle the outbreak, he said.
Against the backdrop of the lockdown that has also disrupted economic activities, Isaac said an exit strategy is being prepared and restrictions are being relaxed in certain segments, including agriculture.
Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on April 12
"The number of patients is coming down (in the state). We hope that in the coming days, the decline will be much more faster," he said during the interview late Friday.
On Saturday, the Kerala government said there were a total of 373 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 228 patients were under treatment in various hospitals in the state.
Keeping the trend in the last few days, the number of people under observation has come down to 1,23,490. So far, 14,613 samples from people with symptoms were sent for testing and the results of 12,818 samples have come negative, the government said in a statement on Saturday.
Indicating that there would be a calibrated exit from the lockdown, Isaac said the withdrawal would depend on three main factors, including the count of cases and the percentage of people who are under observation.
While emphasising that people must also be fed during the lockdown period, Isaac also said a time table is being prepared by the state to come out of the lockdown.
Even as strict measures are being implemented to deal with the current situation, the state is also preparing for a possible third wave of coronavirus cases.
Three students, who had returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan, were tested positive. They were also the first such cases, to be reported in January-February period, and have recovered. Wuhan was the epicentre of coronavirus infections before it spread to other countries.
Later, there was a second wave of infections in Kerala.
According to the minister, the possibility of a third wave has also been considered for the exit strategy.
"A lot of Malayalees are expected to come back from outside the state. We will welcome them... before that, we want to stamp out all Covid cases in Kerala. Flatten the curve completely so that when these people from outside, they will be quarantined, they will be tested and only then they will be able to integrate with the rest of the community," he said.
The Kerala government's measures, including extensive testing and efforts to trace people who came in contact with coronavirus-infected persons, have helped in curbing spreading of infections.
The state's public healthcare system has also been appreciated in various quarters.
"People are health conscious. There is a demand for quality healthcare services and the response to this demand has been strengthening of the public healthcare system. We have a robust public healthcare system," the minister emphasised.
On April 9, Isaac tweeted about low level of coronavirus spreading in the state.
"International norm for Covid spread is 2.6 per 1 Covid patient. Total number of primary Covid infected who arrived in Kerala from abroad is 254. The secondary spread has been limited to 91. The international mortality rate is 5.75. With just 2 deaths, rate in Kerala is 0.58," he had tweeted.
Death toll due to the coronavirus increased to 273 and the number of cases to 8,356 in the country on Sunday.
Previously, the CL-2 estimation was done based on the norms of the Excise Act, which permits one liquor shop for every 15,000 persons in rural areas and one shop for every 7,500 persons in urban areas. The government had granted more arrack shops in rural areas before 2007 (sale of arrack was banned that year). As there were more arrack shops the number of CL-2 lincences in rural areas was confined.
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employment is generate through this to the shop & to the hospital too, nurses, Pharmacy, Dr; ambulance drives & all their family, this is the other side of the coin
If some body wants to drink, let them enjoy their life, let them drink sensibly, if some one is determined to drink no one can stop, you can see cases in Saudi Arabia, Gujarat people still drink cheap liquor, see always other side of the coin also, sharab, juaa or shabab this are man's weekness, now dont start give lecture on this, if you have not done any of this then you are welcome for the lecture
please ban liquor seriously some family is suffering from it, for the development of the family everyone should work hard, but this liquor make them to spend all hard worked money to their habit.
Only liquor hoses ? Brothels no need?
God knows y this Siddu govt is acting like Yeddy govt
It seems that Government of Karnataka need more money to spend their MLA's/MLC's and ministers expenditures. There are other states are thinking total ban on liquor whereas Karnataka is thinking of more licenses to liquor shops. The scapegoats are poor and middle class people of this state.
Siddaramayya must think more time on this and no more licenses are issued and don't bend down to the liquor lobby.
helmet compulsory, its saves head from accident, Liquor compulsory again it kills all part of the body, look at the govt policy, shame on selfish policy of karnataka govt, fools ruling govt.
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