COVID-19 Under Control But We’re Running Out Of Vaccines: Kerala Health Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala recorded over 20,000 COVID-19 cases for a fourth straight day on Friday, state Health Minister Veena George said, “The situation in Kerala is absolutely under control.”

Notably, Kerala recorded over 20,000 fresh cases in the state for the fourth day, with the test positivity rate (TPR) rising to 13.61 per cent and 116 more people succumbing to COVID-19. With the fresh cases, the infection caseload in the state reached 33,70,137 and 116 deaths took the total casualties to 16,701.

However, the Health Minister claimed that the severity of the viral disease is less as the demand for oxygen support, ICU beds in hospitals is less.

Meanwhile, highlighting the acute shortage of vaccines in the state, she said that two days ago, Kerala’s vaccine stock was zero, but then the Center provided us with 9.73 lakh doses. But there will be no vaccine even for the day after tomorrow, she said.

“A Central team visited Kerala…They communicated to us that they are satisfied with the measures the government is adopting,” George added.

With an active caseload of 1.54 lakh as per the latest update, Kerala accounts for 37.1 per cent of the total active cases in the country. The state has recorded a high positivity of 12.93 per cent cumulatively and 11.97 per cent weekly.

At present 4,56,951 people are under observation in various districts of the state. Of these, 4,29,118 are in-home or institutional quarantine and 27,833 are in hospitals.

As many as 14,651 people have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 31,92,104 and the number of active cases in the state to 1,60,824. In the last 24 hours, 1,52,639 samples were tested and the TPR was found to be 13.61 per cent.

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