Kerala sees sharp rise in COVID-19 infections after Onam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala reported 31,445 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, August 26, with a test positivity rate (TPR) of 19.03 per cent, which is predicted to be a consequence of Onam. The cases reported constitute 70 per cent of the total cases in the country.

Veena George, Minister of Health, Government of Kerala, said that the hike was expected after the Onam celebrations so a special drive has begun to increase the rate of testing and vaccination. She added that as the sero prevalence is very low in the state, the administration has to find the infected people and quarantine them at the earliest.

Kerala’s biggest festival Onam was celebrated last week and the state government relaxed restrictions for it. The markets were crowded ahead of the festival. The 4^th round of sero prevalence conducted in July this year by the Indian Council of Medical Research showed antibody prevalence of 67.7 per cent nationally. However, for Kerala, it was just 42.7 per cent.

It is possible that Kerala, which did not experience the brunt of the second wave, is witnessing it now with the infections driven by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Various hospitals have started to feel the pinch as the government hospitals said that only 10 per cent of the beds are available but there is no shortage of oxygen or essential medicines.