Surge in patients worries Kerala The state’s tally is now 164, including the 12 who have been cured and discharged

K.M. Rakesh, TT, 28.03.20, Banglore: Kerala on Friday witnessed its sharpest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases so far, recording 39 new patients, while Karnataka witnessed its third death from the infection — the second in two days.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 34 of the new patients were from Kasaragod district. Two were from Kannur and one each tested positive in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kollam.

The state’s tally is now 164, including the 12 who have been cured and discharged.

Twenty-nine of the latest 39 patients had arrived recently from Dubai and the rest were primary contacts of some who had tested positive earlier.

Vijayan said Friday’s surge was a cause for concern. “This shows that our restrictions should be strengthened and we should be ready to face any situation,” he said.

He expressed concern that many people who should be in home quarantine were moving around ignoring medical advice.

“A local politician from Idukki tested positive yesterday. His travel history is shocking. He has travelled from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod and been to the state secretariat and even the Assembly building,” he said.

“The primary finding is that he met a person who had come from abroad and later tested positive. But in keeping with procedure we are examining his travel history to see if had met any more people (who tested positive).”

Vijayan said the ministers and other lawmakers who had come into contact with the patient had been told to be careful and follow procedure.

Patient dead

In Karnataka, a 65-year-old man from Sira in Tumkur district died a day after a 70- year-old woman who had visited Saudi Arabia passed away.

Twenty of the man’s family members have been quarantined and so have three doctors who treated him, Tumkur deputy commissioner Rakesh Kumar told reporters.

Karnataka had recorded the country’s first Covid-19 death, with a 76-year-old man who had travelled to Saudi Arabia dying in Gulbarga on March 12. His blood report later confirmed he was coronavirus positive.

The state recorded nine new positive cases on Friday, taking its tally to 64, including the three dead and the five cured. Of these, 39 cases have been reported from Bangalore.

Border woe

On Friday, Karnataka blocked all entry points from Kerala by dumping huge quantities of soil on the roads.

“People from parts of Kasaragod had been going to Karnataka for medical treatment and dialysis. But the Karnataka authorities blocked all roads by dumping soil. This has created a serious issue,” Vijayan said.

He said several patients had to return from the inter-state border.

A woman gave birth inside an ambulance after being denied entry into Karnataka for hospital delivery. She has since been admitted to a hospital in Kasaragod town.

“Our chief secretary has spoken to his Karnataka counterpart and received an assurance that the roadblocks would be removed,” the chief minister said.

Cuban medicine

Kerala health authorities have decided to try Cuban medicines to treat the Covid-19 patients. “We are exploring this by seeking permission from the drugs controller (to import Cuban medicines),” Vijayan said.

He announced a massive awareness campaign for “guest workers” – his description for migrant workers.

“We have distributed brochures and video messages in Bengali, Odia and Hindi to educate our guest workers on coronavirus safety measures,” Vijayan said.

Soap, hand sanitisers and free food are being given to more than one lakh migrant workers at more than 4,000 camps.

“This is not enough. In some places guest workers are still living in poor condition and that is a serious matter,” the chief minister said.

He urged the district collectors concerned to “take this as (their) personal responsibility”.

Stray dogs

Vijayan highlighted the problems faced by stray dogs, temple monkeys and domestic cattle and poultry, and called for immediate solutions.

“Stray dogs have been wandering without food since the entire state is locked down. They can get aggressive when they don’t get food,” he said.

He urged local bodies such as city councils and panchayats to arrange for food for stray dogs.

“Temple monkeys have also been without food. So the temple committees concerned should take the responsibility of feeding them,” Vijayan said.