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.
The firm had said his life would change if he made “architectural corrections” to his house by spending lakhs of rupees.
Comments
number 1 fraud cheating waste of money stop beliveing
Television channels shuld be dragged to court by relaying such gimmicks programmes
This era is specialized for fake Swamis, Gurus, Babas, fortune tellers, Vastu specialists and so on.
We have seen thousands of structures constructed before without any Vastu still they stand intact for hundreds of years. In TV chennels they broadcast vastu and fortunes at the expenses of viewers. Chandra Shekar guru a fraudester fooling the public, consultation fee is only 500/- then he charges exorbitantly to his shishyas are trapped in Vastu. This is nothing but a cheating and Section 420 and other CPC to be leveled on this fake guru.
I am surprised why State Government is dilly dallying to bring the legislation on superstition and give permanent full stop for these Gurus, Swamis, and Babes.
Unfortunately, even in this advanced scientific era, people get betrayed.
How can be luck is related to stars and date of birth. No common science will accept where as this so called Guru claims his vastu is scientific.
Why other educated people are not raising their concern on unethical practices by such self proclaimed guru/priests/Swamees.
Secondly there are many TV channels are telecasting the program with live interviews.
He is using Suvarna News. there are horoscope readers in Asia Net Malayalam channel .
This man asks the customer - what is your date of birth. Then he gives so called VASTU consultancy, and asks them to change the direction of door, etc.
Thanks to God Islam outright condemns fortune telling and horoscope reading.
Horoscopes are preventing many a times potential couples from marrying telling them their marriage life will not be successful as their birth date and stars are not matching.
make ur mind and heart clear ... everything wil be fine ... they are all fraud and money maker ,.
they fooled many people first they will tell sarala vastu its free service and after getting the appointment they will call us and ask us to deposit 10000. after reaching to your place all their expenses have to be paid by the customer. totally proud telecasting Zee Kannada Channel should be banned,
No. 1 fraud
Number one fraud.
First we have to ban the channels in which this was shown, channels only want trp, after that people lose their money on putting on them,
everyday new new swamijis are taking birth and making fools out of people, their targets are only poor people and greedy ones.
from the first day i was telling with my mom about him, this will be a big fraud, and the truth s here.
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