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Kerala reported a large increase in coronavirus cases on Thursday with 26 new cases, the highest since the end of March, Prime Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. He said that out of 26, seven were returnees from the Middle East and eight came from other states, including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
The state’s worst fears of a sharp rise in cases with the new wave of residents returning from the Gulf countries and other states have come true. So far, 22 people returning from the Middle East have tested positive and the number is likely to increase further with more flights expected in the coming days.
“The sudden outbreak exposes the threat that lurks. We have been insisting on strict protocol because of this. Many questioned us when we insisted on obtaining passes for those who come from other states. This is not the time to play politics, ”said the CM, digging through three members of Congress and two legislators who were asked to quarantine.
MPs Remya Haridas, T N Prathapan and V K Sreekandan and lawmakers Anil Akkara and Shafi Parambhil visited the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border checkpoint on May 9 to distribute food and other essentials for the homeless. The district medical board asked them to proceed to a 14-day home quarantine after one of the youth they allegedly interacted tested positive. Parliamentarians later called the measure “politically motivated” but said they will follow the directive of the district administration.
“We have instructed not to organize any reception for those who come to the state due to the prevailing situation. Despite this, some leaders rushed to the border post and interacted with many. This should have been avoided. It is not time to play politics, ”he said. But MPs said it was a politically linked measure.
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“We will go for the administration’s directive. But we suspect some foul play on this. The young man collapsed in the morning and when the television channels reported this, we went there in the afternoon. On May 11 they gave him a positive result. We believe it is a movement aimed at cornering us, ”said Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan, adding that the CPI (M) district committee had raised a demand to send him and others in quarantine two days ago.
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Maintaining a healthy chart with high recovery rates and low mortality, the state pushed the emergency button when the exodus of expatriates from countries in the Middle East and other states began. The fact that the majority of returnees from Arab nations other than the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were not evaluated before the trip began has compounded concerns.
“It is a critical phase for the state. In the past few days, we only had single digit cases and some days were case free. Social distancing, masks and hand hygiene have become part of our life. There is no escape from them now. We have to follow the directives of the health officials and I am sure that we will overcome it, ”said the CM.
Kerala has a total of 560 positive cases, including 64 active cases undergoing treatment in hospitals.
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