Kerala Covid cases continue to rise, Govt rattled

Kerala Thursday recorded a new high in Covid-19 cases with 1078 reporting positive. Thiruvananthapuram continued be a source of concern with 222 testing positive of which nearly 100 were through contacts.

Kollam, the next major city near Thiruvananthapuram, recorded 106 cases, mostly from coastal areas.

There was some consolation as the state recorded the highest recoveries – 432.

The commercial hub of Kochi recorded 100 cases Thursday, but the worrying news is the fast spread of the virus in Aluva where a curfew has been clamped.

In Thrikkakara near Kochi, 26 nuns tested positive Thursday while it was 18 the previous day in another convent.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan once more waved the stick of a lockdown and described the situation as grave and grim. He said unless people take precautionary measures, the state will have to step in and impose a lockdown,

However, the Opposition parties have given a thumbs down to a lockdown. The parties said there was a clamour for lockdown from the CM’s side as he wanted to put off the Assembly session where the gold smuggling case would crop up.

The government has convened an all-party meeting to discuss the need for a lockdown. A decision is likely on Monday.