With a test positivity rate (TPR) of 19 percent, Kerala accounts for over 70 percent of active Covid-19 cases in India. During state Health Secretary Veena George has said many times that cases have hit a plateauthe center thinks differently.
“Three days ago the TPR was 15 percent, now it is 19 percent. The cases are only increasing now, “a central government official told India Today on condition of anonymity.
“There is no other way than to lock,” added the official.
When asked what purpose a lockdown would serve, the official said it would break the chain of transmission “like in Delhi”. The official said that if a lockdown is imposed in Kerala, the situation will improve within a fortnight.
“Kerala needs strategic and intelligent containment and lockdown action, including a night curfew just in view of the festivities,” the official said, adding that the state had already been advised.
Reading | Why Kerala can’t afford another lengthy lockdown
Optimistically, the official said that the seroprevalence in Kerala was estimated to have exceeded the 60 percent mark given the improved vaccination rates and increased infection rates. Therefore, the chances of improving the situation are very real, the official said.
Experts agree. “It is time for Kerala to be extremely careful. The state needs to take stock of the health system’s readiness for an inevitable surge in the coming days. If it feels that the health infrastructure is about to become saturated, it will have to consider a full lockdown for a very short period of time, ”Professor Rijo John, health economist, told India Today.
“At the moment, however, the health infrastructure is not under heavy load. However, this could soon change in the coming days,” added Professor Rijo John.
Kerala orders a sero poll to be carried out
The fourth sero survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found a seroprevalence of 44 percent. On Friday, the Kerala government ordered a Sero poll in the state.
According to the government of Kerala, the goal of the Sero survey was to:
* To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the 18 year old population of Kerala.
* To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among prenatal women attending pregnancy clinics in Kerala.
* To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in children aged 5 to 17 in Kerala.
* To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among the tribal population aged 18 and over in rural parts of the districts in Kerala.
* To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in 18 year olds in coastal areas of Kerala.
* To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in 18 year olds in slum areas in companies in Kerala.
Kerala announces night curfew
On Saturday that The Kerala government also announced the nightly curfew From next week
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, public health expert and past president of the Indian Medical Association, told India Today, “Kerala’s daily new case numbers, hovering around 20,000, have gradually increased into the 30,000 zone – consistent with the increased mobility experienced during of a Christmas season and with intensified tests that took place this week. Some restrictions will be put in place, including Sunday lockdowns and nighttime curfews that are expected to limit people’s mobility. “
“It is true that the Delta variant spreads rapidly in households, and it is also a fact that vaccinated people get asymptomatic or mild breakthrough infections and therefore spread them,” he added.
Center writes to Government of Kerala
The center, meanwhile, wrote to the government of Kerala that the state Witnessed sustained and significant transmission of Covid-19 since July 2021 and it remains the main culprit of daily virus cases.
“Despite efforts by the state government to increase testing, the percentage of test confirmations still remains very high (more than 15 percent), indicating high and widespread transmission,” wrote Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan.
He said all 14 counties in Kerala have been identified as areas of concern based on high test positive rates and high cases per million reported in the past four weeks. In addition, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Ernakulam reported more than 4,000 cases per million residents for the week ending August 25.
While Kerala has taken several steps to contain the transmission of Covid-19, the desired results are still pending.
Also read: Onam spike? Kerala has 31,445 new Covid-19 cases, the steepest daily jump in 3 months
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