The southern state has treated and cured 400 COVID-19patients and reported only three fatalities with 34 activecases, earning accolades from many quarters.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has time and again soughtto drive home the point that complacency cannot be affordeddespite a seemingly better show.
"We cannot say we have crossed the danger mark or thatthe danger of community spread no longer exists. We need to bevery careful", Vijayan had said.
The state has been receiving paludits for havingseemingly "flattenened the curve" of COVID-19 cases and the"Kerala model" has also been debated, even in someinternational fora.
Kerala's achievement comes at at a time when neighbouringstates like Tamil Nadu are seeing a surge in positive cases.
While accepting that the recovery rate in the state wasfaster when compared to other states and Kerala was fightingthe pandemic in a much more scientific manner, state HomeSecretary Vishwas Mehta felt the threat was far from over.
"The threat is not over. For the simple reason that tillwe get a vaccine, this will continue all over the world."
"The recovery in Kerala is fast. We are hovering down.When compared to other states, the number of positive cases,deaths and those under surveillance are coming down in thestate. No one is tackling the pandemic as scientifically as weare doing," Mehta told .
However, people need to be more careful and not be"irresponsible in dealing with the invisible enemy," he added.
"The virus will affect those who are not having immunityor have bad health. People must use masks and maintain socialdistancing. We need to maintain our vigil and continue ourfight against it," Mehta said.
Asked if the state had flattened the curve, the stateNodal officer for infectious disease, including coronavirus,Dr Amar Fettle said it requires data for a longer period,apparently to come to a conclusion.
"But overall, the curve has flattened. However, this isno time for relaxing. This is no time for lowering our guard.As there are news that we have 'flattened the curve', peoplehave started coming out in the open without using masks," hesaid.
Kerala has made wearing masks mandatory and has imposed afine of Rs 5,000 for repeat offenders.
The lessons learnt during the outbreak of the 2018 Nipahvirus, which had claimed 17 lives in Kozhikode and Malappuram,including that of a young nurse Lini Puthussuery, came inhandy for the state in getting battle ready to face COVID-19.
Health minister K K Shailaja has said Kerala began itspreparations vis-a-vis Covid-19 when reports emerged of itsoutbreak in the epicentre Chinese city of Wuhan in Decemberlast.
The state had many medical students studying in Wuhan andknew that they would be returning. One among the returnes wasthe country's first case of the infection.
India's first three cases of the virus were from Keralaand by the time they showed some symptoms, they had alreadybeen isolated in hospitals.
A 20-year-student from Thrissur, who returned from Wuhan,did not have any symptoms when she returned.
But when she developed a sore throat and dry cough, sheinformed health workers and they kept in touch with her on adaily basis, before she was shifted to a hospital on January27, three days before she tested positive for Covid-19.
Two others from Wuhan University, hailing from Alapuzhaand Kasaragod, also subsequently tested positive for thevirus. All three were cured and discharged in February.
The second wave of infections hit Kerala on March 8 whena three-member family from Ranni in Pathanamthitta arrivedfrom Italy and tested positive, along with two of their closerelatives.
Subsequently, four more relatives, including nonagenarianThomas and his wife Mariyamma (88),the parents of Moncy whohad returned along with his wife and son from Italy, alsocontracted the virus.
All of them were cured and discharged later but therecovery of the elderly couple was a feather in the cap of thestate, with experts describing it as the "rarest of rare" casesince high mortality rate is generally seen in older peopleglobally due to the infection.
There was a spike in infections since March 20 when 37cases were detected, with the graph peaking on April 8 with259 cases after which there has been a downward trend of 114on April 20 and 34 on May 4.
Three fatalities have been reported so far, two of thembeing aged over 65 years of age and having various otherhealth issues. The other was a four month old baby girl.
Fettle, who was a vital part of state machinery infighting the Nipah virus, said practising social distancingand use of masks is a necessity to fight the pandemic andpeople must ensure they wear it the moment they step out oftheir houses, be it inside a cab or at a shop.
Asked how the state was fighting the virus when comparedto other states, Mehta said the state "is much much ahead."
"We have so many hospitals and doctors in Kerala. We aremuch much ahead of other states. We have the experience ofdealing with the Nipah virus. We have the experience ofhandling such diseases," Mehta said.
"In the health sector, we are on par with Europeancountries,IMR (Infant Mortality Rate), MMR, death mortality,"he added.
However, what is a cause for concern is that many peoplewho were asymptomatic are among those who tested positivelater and the health authorities are cluless about the sourceof their infection.
With Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) who are expected toarrive in the state from various countries from May 7, thestate is waiting with bated breath, hoping positive cases willnot see a jump.
So far 4.27 lakh Keralites stranded in various countries,including over 9,000 pregnant women, have registered with theNon Resident Keralites Affairs' (NORKA) online portal.
Nearly one lakh people from other states have alsoregistered for their return.
Those with expired visiting visas, the aged, pregnantwomen, children, critically ill patients, students who havecompleted their courses, and others are among the largenumbers of people who are waiting to return.
"Around 27,000 institutitions, including hotels, resorts,hostels, schools, lodges, stadiums and even auditoriums havebeen identified where we can accommodate around 10 lakhpeople. Space has been found," Mehta said.
"Stadiums and auditoriums will be used as a last resort,"he added.
On Monday, for the second consecutive day, no positivecases were reported in the state and the active cases was 34. RRT UD APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH