Kerala’s worst fears come true with Gulf returnees driving a big spike in Covid-19 cases

Kerala reported an enormous spurt in coronavirus circumstances on Thursday with 26 new circumstances, the very best since March-end, stated chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He stated out of 26, seven had been middle-east returnees and eight got here from different states together with Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

The state’s worst fears of a steep rise in circumstances with the recent wave of residents coming back from the Gulf nations and different states have come true. 22 folks coming back from the middle-east have examined positive to date and the quantity is more likely to go up even additional with extra flights anticipated within the coming days.

“The sudden spurt exposes the lurking threat. We have been insisting for a strict protocol due to this. Many questioned us when we insisted for passes for those coming from other states. It is not the time to play politics,” stated the CM taking a dig at three Congress MPs and two legislators who had been requested to proceed on quarantine.

MPs Remya Haridas, T N Prathapan and V Okay Sreekandan and legislators Anil Akkara and Shafi Parambhil had visited the Kerala- Tamil Nadu border checkpost on May 9 to distribute meals and different necessities to the stranded folks. The district medical board has requested them to proceed on a 14-day dwelling quarantine after one of many youths they allegedly interacted with examined positive. The MPs later dubbed the transfer as “politically-motivated” however stated they may go by the directive of the district administration.

“We have given instructions not to arrange any reception for those coming 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 no time to play politics,” he stated. But the MPs stated it was a politically- laced transfer.

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“We will go by the directive of the administration. But we suspect some foul play in this. The youth collapsed in the morning and when TV channels reported this, we went there in the afternoon. He was tested positive on May 11. We feel it is a move aimed at cornering us,” stated Palakkad MP V Okay Sreekandan including the CPI (M) district committee had raised a requirement to ship him and others in quarantine two days in the past.

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The state, which is sustaining a wholesome graph with excessive restoration and low mortality charges, pressed the emergency button because the exodus of expatriates from middle-eastern nations and different states started. The proven fact that a lot of the returnees from Arab nations aside from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) weren’t examined earlier than beginning journey has aggravated issues.

“It is a critical phase for the state. In the last few days, we had only single-digit cases and some days were free of cases. Social distancing, masks and hand-hygiene have become part of our life. There is no escape from them now. We have to go by the directives of health officials and I am sure we will overcome this,” stated the CM.

Kerala has a complete of 560 positive circumstances, together with 64 lively circumstances beneath therapy in hospitals.