The State has reported 21 more new COVID-19 positive cases. These include two persons who had attended the meetings at Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddeen, Delhi, and are currently in quarantine in the State.
Another new development is the inclusion of seven districts in the State, including Thiruvananthapuram, on the list of “potential COVID-19 hotspots” identified by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The other districts are Kasaragod, Kannur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Thrissur.
Briefing media here on Thursday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that of the 21 new cases, nine were imported infections from abroad, nine were primary contacts of various imported cases, one was a person who had come from Gujarat and the other two were those who had attended the Tablighi meetings.
Eight of these cases are located in Kasaragod, five in Idukki, two in Kollam and one case each in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur.
He said the government had collected the details of 157 persons from the State who had attended the Tablighi meetings, all of whom are currently in quarantine. One of the Nizamuddeen-returnee who tested positive is in Thodupuzha district hospital, while the other one is in Kollam Government Medical College, Parippally.
286 cases in State
The State has till date reported 286 COVID-19 cases. At present, 256 of these patients are in various hospitals. Two deaths aside, 26 patients have completely recovered and have been discharged. Mr. Vijayan said 200 out of the 286 cases reported so far were imported cases, while 76 persons were primary contacts. Seven were foreign tourists who had tested positive while touring in the State.