Thiruvananthapuram: 28,447 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Kerala today, the single-day highest ever. “The Covid spread in the State is severe. 1,30,617 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate is 21.78%. At present, there are 1,78,983 patients under treatment. 27 deaths were also reported. A serious situation is developing in the State and strict restrictions will have to be imposed”, said the Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan while briefing the media.
Giving details about his online meeting today with the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi; the Chief Minister said, “I have updated the Prime Minister of our requirements of the vaccine but he has not responded to it. He was also informed about the preparations and steps being taken here to combat the second wave spread of Covid in the State. The second wave started at a time when the state had reduced its test positivity rate to 3.5%. Kerala welcomes the Centre’s decision to vaccinate those over 18 but we need more stocks. Concerns were raised at the meeting that the non-availability of an affordable vaccine as this could pose a major challenge to the realisation of our goal of surviving the pandemic. The current stock of vaccine will exhaust in two days and Kerala’s need for 50 lakhs dose is justifiable. I have requested the PM to make it available at the earliest.”
“Kerala is of the view that the vaccine should be made available free of cost to all the states and the herd immunity should be developed at the national level. At the market rate of Rs.400 per dose, Rs.1,300 crores would be needed to procure 50% of the required stock, as per the Centre’s new vaccine policy. This would cause an additional financial burden on the State at a time when the financial resources of the State are stretched. The state was already spending a lot of money to save people’s lives by providing emergency health services at this stage of the pandemic. The central government’s vaccine policy is to push states that are reeling from the economic crisis into more trouble”, the CM added.
He also informed that the State is following a three-pronged strategy to ‘Crush the Curve’. “One, increase the number of tests to find out the maximum number of cases. Two, provide maximum treatment through Covid hospitals, First-Line Treatment Centres and home isolation. Three, bring effective regulation and specific restrictions to avoid a full lockdown and support the economy. The State’s approach will be to vaccinate maximum people to develop herd immunity. The decision of the State Government is to implement the policy of free and universal vaccination which has been followed for so long in independent India. We will keep our word to the people.”
The next two days (Saturday & Sunday) will see restrictions similar to lockdown. Only essential services and emergency travel will be allowed. There is a cap of 75 people indoor and 150 outdoor for marriage functions decided earlier and a maximum of 50 people for funeral services. Further restrictions will be discussed at an all-party meeting on Monday.