NEW DELHI: Cautioning state governments against laxity in Covid-19 containment during the festival season, health minister Harsh Vardhan cited Kerala to say the state was paying the “price for gross negligence” during Onam festivities when unlocking of services along with increased travel for trade and tourism led to a spike in infections.
During his weekly ‘Sunday Samvaad’ on social media, Vardhan said Kerala “ought to serve as a good lesson for all states against being negligent” in planning anti-Covid-19 measures for the festival season. Kerala health minister K K Shailaja had recently said laxity by people during easing of restrictions for Onam had contributed to a rise in infections.
New cases of Covid-19 are increasing rapidly in Kerala. On Saturday, the state recorded 9,016 new cases, taking its tally to over 3.3 lakh while deaths stood at 1,139. Prior to Onam (August 22), the state had reported around 54,000 cases, while the death toll was nearly 200. The state has a low mortality rate of 0.4% but high positivity and growth rates point to the need for more testing, contact tracing and containment.
On China’s claim that the novel coronavirus broke out simultaneously in several countries last year, Vardhan said, “There is no evidence that can validate the claims on global multiple focal point for the novel coronavirusRead More – Source
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