With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Kerala, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday to declare a health emergency. The test positivity rate has reached 12.59 per cent in the state.
IMA has revealed that in the last 28 days COVID-19 cases were confirmed in more than one lakh people in Kerala, and in this backdrop, there is an urgent need for systematic coordination between various departments to tackle the emerging COVID situation in the state in an efficient manner.
It added, “There is a lack of effective coordination between various departments. A coordination committee should be formed including professional organizations like IMA.”
To avoid the community spread of the virus in the state, more tests need to be done in the state, and those who are already infected should be kept in isolation wars, said the IMA. It has also urged the state government to provide the real-time data of beds, ICUs, and ventilators available in the hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan admitted that the current scenario in the state was bad, as COVID-19 cases were doubling on an average of every 20 days. He warned that strict action would be taken against owners of shops where social distancing or other health protocols are not being followed.
Health Minister, KK Shailaja stated on Sunday that it would be difficult for the state to impose a complete lockdown as it will affect the livelihood of the people. “If the situation becomes worse like that of the USA or Brazil, and thousands lose their life, then we will have no other option left”, he said. The minister also warned youngsters to be more careful as 28 per cent of deaths reported in the state were under 60 years.
After reporting over 7,000 fresh COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days, Kerala saw 4,538 new infections on Monday, taking the total affected to 1,78,922. The state had reported 7,445 cases on Sunday and 7,006 on Saturday. Twenty fatalities pushed the toll to 697 so far.
According to the current data, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kerala is 1,79,922 including 57,879 active cases. As many as 697 lives have been claimed by the virus so far.
