Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is seeing a renewed uptick in Covid-19 cases, with 182 infections reported across the state so far in May. In light of this surge, Health Minister Veena George urged the public to be vigilant and maintain caution. George addressed the media on the state’s preparedness, noting the situation in countries like Hong Kong and Singapore where the Omicron JN1 sub-variants LF.7 and NB.1.8, which have a higher capacity to spread the disease, are driving a surge in the case in South East Asian regions.
Among the 182 new cases recorded in May in Kerala, Kottayam reported the highest number with 57 cases, Ernakulam followed with 34 cases and Thiruvananthapuram registered 30 cases. The rest of the cases were distributed across other districts. George also told that a high-level meeting of the State Rapid Response Team (RRT) was convened to review the evolving situation and plan further action. She said that it was decided in the meeting that Covid-19 testing will be increased for symptomatic individuals; hospitals have been instructed to ensure availability of RTPCR kits and safety equipment and masks are now mandatory in hospitals, and health workers are required to wear them at all times.
The minister also gave specific advice to the public: Those with symptoms such as cold, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath must wear masks. It is advisable for the elderly, pregnant women and those with serious illnesses to wear masks in public places and while traveling. While the current Covid variants have shown high transmissibility, Minister George reassured the public that the severity is not high. Still, she emphasised precaution, early testing, and mask usage as key steps to preventing a larger outbreak. With the monsoon season approaching, the Health Department also warned of a possible rise in dengue, leptospirosis, and other water-borne diseases. Field-level monitoring and public health activities will be intensified, especially considering the chance of intermittent rain, the minister said.
