Kerala reports 10 new COVID-19 cases, 23k under observation

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 23 () Ten fresh COVID-19 caseswere reported in Kerala on Thursday, taking the total activecases in the state to 129 with 23,000 people underobservation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Four of the new cases were reported from the high rangeIdukki district, two each from Kozhikode and Kottayam and onecase each from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, he said in hisdaily media briefing on the disease situation.

Kottayam, declared a green zone on Tuesday with no newcases in 14 days, has reported one case each in the past twodays.

Two cases reported on Thursday had foreign travelhistory, four had returned from neighbouring states and otherswere contacts of those already infected, Vijayan said. Samples of eight people -- six from Kasaragod and oneeach from Malappuram and Kannur, returned negative. The total COVID-19 cases in the state was 447, Vijayansaid adding 23,000 people were under observation, most of themunder home quarantine. UDVS VS