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
Tipu is one of the few freedom fighter who didnt bow his head to British and fought bravely and died in the battlefield. unlike RSS, VHP who bowed their head to be their slave. Now these little puppies have grown up to speak against Tiger of Mysore forgetting his contribution to the indian freedom struggle. Secondly if Tipu had converted hindus into islam by force then there would have been not a single Hindu left in the country now while Hindus make up 80% of Indian population. Foolish people talk without any logic.
Hindu jaya Gosh (gosh of beef)
who is tippu. he is a crimnal. why shold we celebrate his birthday?
If these goons kill Gandhi the person who gave freedom and did ultimate sacrifice for the nation, then how can we expect these goons will talk fairly.
Now Mr. Jain himself is a Jain and not Hindu. He should set an example by denouncing his religion and should join Hinduism.
About Muslims joining Hinduism,
Mr. Jain come for a healthy debate.
If Hinduism proved to be true, all Muslims will join Hinduism.
Like wise if Hinduism proved to be untrue, you first join Islam and ask your people to accept Islam.
They only calls... but no body listen to them.
Wah Re Wah... What a meaningful statements by Mr Jain, the member of non violent community! Thooo nin janmakkishtu
Jihadist and Bajrangi's mentality are same. Both are terrorist. Please just ignore them.
instead of this time waste, do good to the country, help poor family to come up in life.
Tiger-Tippu is being remembered for his bravery.... and entire country is appreciating for his hard work....he is the only king stood against british rule at that time....these chaddies were supporting british....nobody from chaddies fought for our country for our freedom....they should be ashamed of themselves.....
Creating violence in the peaceful society is their birth right!!
Bap Ray Bap what's going on here and there, Mallu
We need thorough research to unearth the historical truth.
Tipu was never a freedom fighter and was fighting only to save himself and like mentioned to convert to islam. It cannot be condoned that others did so can he. What kind of logic is this to support tyranny. So by default we are agreeing to BJP's ghar vapsi. What wrong VHP is doing if Tipu was right in his actions.
None of the royalty was \freedom fighter\".They were fighting for their own glory and power. The poor faceless people who died for the country after 1857 were \"freedom fighters\""
none of these castes and religions belongs to India. Hindu, Christian, Muslim. All this people are developing wide spread hatred among people. In India we were having Dravida origin people. They may have converted to Buddism or jainism but not on any compulsions from out side Indians but due to the intuitions from the times GURUS like mahavir or buddha. Even before that we had aadi dravida culture. With out having the detailed study or finding on the back history, we are spreading hatred on starting from edges of the last point.It is mere nonsense. Tipu sulthan the great may have committed crime as a king. the christians preachers may have converted people to their religion by force or else. At this point of time study and analysis may favour some historical revelations but creating hatred in the name of religion and causing poor people to lead violance is a ploy that every religion at every time played in and around the world. Israel, Arab countries, US, UK, Australia and even in Africa these game plan works and the loosers are always the down troden common public and the profit makers are always the top leaders of the religion as well the politicians. This is the corrupt intolerance
Nobody is with clean hands. Something or the other is done by everybody in general for their survival. If everybody's history is revealed the person will be caught in somewhere in the middle of his life. There is no any such great person who did all good things for others. So stop this hatredness and let's see how to move forward with the country where there are types of religion, race, community, caste, creed and culture. If this comment goes on with UCA then they are also poking their nose in the issue which is not related to them. Kindly if you are not able to do goodness please do not agitate the country. The seed sowing job is done by the communal parties in the year 2002 by demolishing Babri Masjid and massacring thousands of people from a particular religion. Remember. Don't blame the religion. and UCA and BJP/ VHP/ BAJRANG DAL or so called sangh parivars is going against the Karnataka government and the INDIAN Government decision. We would like to thank to the HONORABLE CM OF KARNATAKA and the Congress leaders who has taken rigid decision to commemorate Tippu Sulthan. Tippu never opposed. In fact he used to work with secularism where in his court he was giving equal position to all. Like Poornaiah, and the list goes on. He fought with the British rulers bravely. They only awarded him as THE TIGER OF MYSORE for his bravery. Even English mothers tried to make the child sleep by saying his bravery. So stop blaming UCA. This UCA should not come into picture. They also joined. Ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!
Thanks to our Historians. These historians were patronized by ruling elite, to give us wrong history. We were fooled. Ms.Danya Rajendran had tweeted that she knows a family by name 70s. That is, they are descendants of 70 families, in Mysore, whose males were killed by this Great Tipu. During his period, there were JUST TWO temples in his kingdom. This fact is also known after this Tipu Jayanthi celebrations by Govt.
Instead we should celebrate GODSE jayanthi,
pathetic people, need to revise History again to these people!!!!
We never want to celebrate anybody's birthday. Only God knows what is Tippu's situation now as every soul shall die and will be asked with what he did with the life that God has given us...
Aren't they all have any intellect?
If Tippu did not started the War with the British, we would still be the slaves of the British and their chamchas , the cheddis.
Why the stupids want us to believe what they say without learning the history...
Cheddi leaders have tricked very easily many ignorants...Wow there are so many, who doenst use their God given intellect... and they stand with the LIARS... for petty gains...
Dont worry God is with those who are truthful... As a whole evils will perish one day
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