Thiruvananthapuram : 111 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed during the day, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijay. It is the highest single-day surge witnessed so far. Fifty infections were diagnosed in people who arrived from overseas and another 48 in those from outside states. 10 people contracted the virus via direct contact. 3 healthcare workers tested positive for covid. There were 22 recoveries recorded in the day.
40 cases were reported from Palakkad alone while Malappuram recorded 18 new infections and Pathanamthitta 11. A total of 1,77,033 people arrived from other countries and states so far - 30,363 overseas and 1,46,670 other states. Of these , 93,783 people arrived from severely-affected regions. 63 percent of the people arrived by road, 27 percent by rail and the remaining 10 percent by air.
The bulk of arrivals, 37 percent, have been from Tamil Nadu while 26.9 percent came from Karnataka and 14 percent from Maharashtra. From the overseas influx, most came in from UAE. Overseas tally : 48.8 percent from UAE; 11.6 percent from Oman; 7.6 percent Kuwait. Of arrivals from outside, 680 tested positive for the virus - 343 from abroad and 337 from other states.
It has been decided to step up antibody testing from now on. ICMR supplies of 10,000 test kits are in stock. 10,000 antibody tests shall be conducted each passing week. The aim is to detect if there exists community spread anywhere, said CM.
Opening Up :
Lockdown curbs is set to loosen up from June 8. The Centre has issued rules and guidelines for the same. All general relaxations declared by the centre shall be effected in the state too. Discussions were held with religious heads for a consensus on rules to observe when places of worship reopen. The centre’s guideline prohibiting the aged, young children and pregnant women at public places will hold good for religious venues too. People visiting places of worship shall wear mask, maintain a 6-feet distance from one another and wash hands. There shall be no drawing water from public places. Tap water shall be used instead. Spitting in public places is strictly prohibited.
All rules shall be listed at a prominent place outside the worship sites. All religious sites are required to record the name and details of believers who visit there. Nobody shall touch sacred shrines or texts at these places. Mats or clothing for prayers shall be brought by the devotees themselves. Recorded prayers shall be played instead of live recitations. The centre specifies exact steps to be followed to administer medical assistance to a ill person should one reach any place of worship.
Hotels, hospitality services and shopping malls shall function with strict adherence to centre’s guidelines. Details of individuals, their travel history and health condition should be recorded meticulously.
