Five more test positive, active cases 32 in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, May 12 () As the flow of Keralitesreturning home from other countries and states continued, fivepeople, including four who came from abroad, tested positivefor COVID-19 in the state on Tuesday, talking the total numberof those under treatment to 32. The other infected person had returned from Chennai, thestate government said. Of the total 32 people presently under treatment for theinfection, as many as 23 had come from outside Kerala,including 11 from abroad. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 70 per cent of thepositive cases were those who had come from outside the stateand the remaining infected through contact. Giving details, he told reporters that there were 32 casesat present. "Of this, six people had come from Chennai, fourfrom Maharashtra, two from Nizamuddin, besides 11 foreignreturnees". Nine were infected through contact. Six of them are fromWayanad district where a truck driver, who had returned fromKoyambedu market in Chennai, tested positive and had infectedhis close relatives and two of his contacts.

The total COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 524 and31,600 people were under observation, including 473 in varioushospitals.

Of the five cases on Tuesday, three are from Malappuramand one each from Pathnamthitta and Kottayam districts.

With the Railways commencing limited passenger servicefrom Tuesday, Vijayan said there was a possiblity of theinfection spreading in air-conditioned trains and this was theexperience the world over.

"It is better to have non-AC trains and Non-AC vehcilesto bring back the stranded Keralites. We will bring this tothe notice of the Centre and railways," he added. UDVS VS