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Super-spreader event, returning expatriates, Delta: 5 things to know about Kerala's Covid spike
CPM leaders are claiming that Kerala's lowest score in seroprevalence means the state handled the pandemic well and that's why it has the lowest number of people exposed to the infection.
For the past three days, Kerala has been reporting over 22,000 fresh Covid-19 infections, triggering apprehensions that this spike might be the early signal of a third wave of the pandemic. The Kerala government on Thursday reimposed weekend restrictions and the Centre has sent a special team to look into the Covid-19 situation of the state.
Several factors have come to the surface as the state, which had recorded the very first Covid-19 patient of India, is seeing a sharp uptick in the number of Covid-19 cases. The rise in the number of cases has also led to a political battle over the Pinarayi Vijayan government's management of the pandemic.
Why are Kerala Covid cases increasing? Study says every 100 people spreading infection to 111
'Superspreader'
Reports said Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to the Kerala government specifying that the spike is a result of the superspreader events that took place in the state recently. Kerala health minister Veena George said she has no information about the letter. While several BJP leaders are putting the blame on the government's decision to ease restrictions during Eid-Al Adha.
'Many cases from outside'
Data reveals that many of the fresh cases being reported daily are from people who have come from outside. For example, 120 cases reported on Tuesday were from outside the state. As Kerala contributes to a large population working in the Gulf countries, the number of people returning to Kerala is also high. According to state data, 14 lakh people have returned to Kerala after the pandemic broke out.
Delta
Delta, the variant which drove the second wave of the pandemic, is believed to be more transmissible. Kerala health minister Veena George attributed the spike to the Delta variant.
Lowest seroprevalence
According to the ICMR's 4th serosurvey report, Kerala has the lowest seroprevalence in the country which means that the least number of people have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. CPM leaders said that this proves that Kerala managed Covid better and that's why not many people have been exposed to the infection.
Increased number of tests
Kerala government has claimed that it has increased the number of testing so that every single positive case gets identified. "We are conducting maximum tests these days. Yesterday, we conducted over 1.96 lakh tests. Today we did more than 1.63 lakh tests," the state health minister state.
