Amid a steep rise in fresh Covid-19 cases, a complete weekend lockdown has been imposed in Kerala on July 31 and August 1. The central government is sending a six-member team from the National Centre for Disease Control to the state, tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Mr Mandaviya said in a tweet, "As a large number of Covid cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid the state's ongoing efforts in Covid management."
“Government is sending a 6-member team to Kerala headed by Director, National Centre for Disease Control. As a large number of COVID cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid the state’s ongoing efforts in COVID management,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated further about the Covid-19 crisis.
Kerala has been recording a steady rise in new infections. With an active caseload of 1.54 lakh as of latest update, Kerala accounts for 37.1 percent of the total active cases in the country.
Average daily cases being reported in the state are above 17,443. Six districts are reporting more than 10 percent weekly positivity, the statement stated.
Some of the worst affected districts in Kerala are Malappuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam.
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Kerala finance minister said that the state would request for a special Covid package from the Centre considering the issues faced by the NRI population, forced to return home.
“The peculiar
situation Kerala is undergoing will be taken up with the Centre as a large
number of the expat population was forced to return home due to COVID. Also,
the plantation sector in the state is under severe financial distress. During
the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had
taken up the issues. All MPs from Kerala should jointly take up the matter,”
said KN Balagopal, Kerala finance minister on Thursday.