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.
Comments
VHP are the most jobless people on earth. If they want to do social service..there are a hundreds of things they can do..and it's a very sad reality that these VHP people who are \so called hindus\" haven't read a page of their Scripture..it is their Hindu scripture that tells them to eat beef and other non veg. This clearly shows their level of knowledge. This is all a drama!because I have met so many hindus (I don't lie because I fear Allah) who eat beef..And even Christians who are no where in this beef issue. And i even know of these SAME NATAK HINDUS WHO PUT A NEW BORN MALE CALF INTO GOBAR GAS TANK BECAUSE THEY THINK MALE CALF ARE OF NO USE."
Is it mr true Indian ?,cmon give me a break. First learn English then advice me..from.which wahabist madrasa you learnt English .first learn the difference between \ leaving \" and \" living \" .then advice .sorry I am not a voter in US .if mr trump wins the election .I will be more happy because he knows how to handle Islamic terrorism wel . I am okay with racial profiling and I never met intolerance in this alien land ."
@Ahmed
When trump kicks u out from usa. What u will do. U r leaving in USA. But ur english is very poor.
@Ahmed fake.
ur usa funding and created terrorists. Shame on u.
Just type hilary clinton and taliban on utube. U will get the answer.
I never tried to divide. I tried to unite.
Pork carries lots of diseases an
Mr True Indian .don't talk like nonsense. I doubt you are an Indian.when we live in multi religious society we must respect others faith. If not becoz bastards like you .society gets divided.I clearly say its becoz of people like you sangh parivar is getting into violence mode .are you aware of cheddis power these days ? Come here and see.no no ...I don't think you will get not even tourist visa with your attitude for USA.whether you accept it or not ..100% sure Mr Modi will bring uniform civil code and we will be in real mess thereafter .so always advice respect other faiths .let's keep religion within home and private and outside let's live like Indians.Hindus take out hides from dead animals .do you know that ?...beef meat means buffalo meat also ....there is no restriction for them to eat it .PFI blocked?,I don't think so. They are having free time becoz of congress govt .moment table turns real problem will crop up. We must never underestimate cheddi log .even though I don't endorse them .its the fact .now they are more powerful than before .we might glorify PFI kfd and CFI .but we must know and predict our future positions.certainly we will have more problems if we allign with wahabist mentality groups in coming days.
Bopanna
But we dont eat. Have u seen a single muslim who ate pork. But i have seen many cheddies who eat beef and pork.
Pork is the only animal on earth which eats his own shit.
Pork eaters are also called as shit eaters. Ru pork's shit eater.
What about serving pork to Muhammad and all of you ,?
chaddis are with a intention to spoil youngsters life.
i/o of doing public welfare.
If one visit beef serving hotel it's real fun to see chaddis enjoying beef
Y don't u guys BAN export of beef which has increased
hahahaha look at one of he guy's comment(mainly we have to destroy bunder), for your kind info couple of years ago BEEF MANDI was under he hands of few hindutva activists, why didnt u destroy then ?
these people give big dialogues about go maathe and all and when they boose they make sure that they have a plate of beef fry.
HYPOCRITES.
Go and tell Modi to stop exporting cow meat.....before start killing innocent human kind....you don't have value and respect towards human kind....heartless creatures....killers of Mahatma Gandhi....
Yes you are right ....................Great result ...finally forced to change the tactics .....after Great resistance from Popular front of India and its allies such as Komu souarda vedike and like minded people and all other 95% Indian Citizens ...these fanatics agreed to change the tactics ...Jai Ho ........
WE CAN DO IT.......5 % Fascists V/S All other Sound Minded . Days are near when these Fanatics are dragged into the prison or to rehabilitation centres .
Vishwa hindu Pakistan
These coward people dont have guts to ban beef in goa.
Kick these vhp to pakistan. Police is not able to catch thogadia. How can they catch dawood.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Ferrari car. Udhav Tackrey’s Mercedes car. Baba Ramdev’s many luxurious car's interior are made from gau mata.
replace their car seat with steel chair.
And many luxurious brands in india like channel louis vuitton burberry gucci etc. most POLTICIANS use it. Are made from gau mata.
First look at ur own family member. Might fallen in love jihad.
How u people will survive without beef with alcohol.
Cheddis are known for their deception
Even after they were caught red handed by their own act of love jihad and cow Stealing, they are giving this shameful statements.. In future we will see this cheddis will be trapped in their deception again..
They think people are still fools accepting what they want .. But I wonder why dont some fools still dont understand this game of deception from the deceivers who learnt their lessons from the greatest deceiver on earth, the zionist... who will dump Indians as well as dump the cheddis with their evil acts...
u cannot stop anything in india, india will be the safest place for all like us.
banning caw slaughtering its just a dream.
for coming 100 or 1000 years, u cannot stop cow slaughtering, its our right we will eat till our death.
yes mainly we have to destroy bunder in this case
Hope at least your new strategy will stop beef export!!!
wow good news. Jai hindu rastra.
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