• July 31, 2021

Surge in Covid cases: Centre rushes high-level team to Kerala to contain the outbreak

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 31: Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in Kerala, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to depute a six-member high-level multi-disciplinary team to the state to “collaborate” with the state’s health authorities for management of the outbreak.

Kerala reported over 22,000 coronavirus cases for the third day in a row — it logged 22,064 new cases and 128 deaths on Thursday — taking the caseload to 33,49,365 and the toll to 16,585.

The “Central team to Kerala is headed by Dr S K Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” the ministry said in a statement. It will reach the state on Friday and visit a few districts, it said. “The team shall work closely with the State Health Departments, take a stock of on ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions to contain the large number of cases being reported by the state.”

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “Central Government is sending 6 member team to Kerala headed by NCDC Director. As large number of COVID cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid state’s ongoing efforts in #COVID19 management.”

“Kerala with an active case load of 1.54 lakh is contributing 37.1 per cent of the total active cases in the country, with a growth rate of 1.41 in the last seven days. Average daily cases being reported in the state are above 17,443,” the ministry said.