Thiruvanthapuram has reported 222 new cases, with 118 cases registered in Kottayam. Other districts have the following caseloads: Malappuram-112, Thrissur-109, Kollam-95, Palakkad-86, Alappuzha-84, Ernakulam-70, Kozhikode-67, Pathanamthitta-63, Wayanad-53, Kannur-43, Kasaragod-38, and Idukki-7.The state also confirmed four deaths associated with COVID-19, one each from Ernakulam, Kasaragod, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. It has taken the overall death toll up to 68. 1,167 people were admitted into hospitals on Tuesday.
In his daily press conference on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Thiruvananthapuram needs special notice because there is a rife spread of the infection in the district. Of the 300 Kinfra Park employees in Menamkulam who were screened, 88 are positive.
COVID clusters were established in Kasaragod owing to wedding functions, he said. Of the 2,408 samples analyzed in those clusters, 350 returned negative. Of the ten clusters established within the district, two are Chenkala and Chemmanad marriage clusters. 51 people tested positive in both clusters. "Wedding roles are becoming hubs for the spread of diseases," Pinarayi said.
Not all COVID-19 patient deaths may be considered COVID deaths, because deaths are reported in compliance with the requirements of the COVID-19 International Guidelines for Certification and Classification (Coding)."As such, COVID may be considered a death if the infection affects the organs and eventually causes death," he said.