Within a week, Kerala recorded 277% more COVID-19 cases, with over 300 new cases in four days. Peak tourist season and non-COVID respiratory diseases may increase the number, experts say. Most clinically mild influenza-like disease patients are sent for testing by hospitals. The health and family welfare ministry holds mock exercises to check readiness.
Kerala saw 277 percent more COVID-19 cases in a week. Peak tourist season with Christmas and New Year approaching, experts warn that incidents may rise and people should be alert.
December 16 saw 302 new COVID cases in Kerala. Kerala recorded 109 instances a week earlier, December 10. Kerala recorded 230 COVID cases on December 12 and over 300 within four days. Cases and deaths are rising slowly.
Due to increased movement and activities during the holidays, we expect a rise in cases, but limited diagnostics make it difficult to determine how many are affected. Several non-COVID respiratory diseases circulate. Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, chairman, research cell, IMA-Kerala, advised individuals, especially the elderly and those with co-morbidities, to avoid crowded indoor activities and wear masks while there. Recent findings suggest that the novel COVID sub-variant JN.1 found in an RT-PCR-positive sample from Karakulam in Thiruvananthapuram on December 8 can now elude human antibody response.
More hospitals are forwarding influenza-like illness (ILI) samples, especially from the elderly and fragile, for COVID testing as COVID spreads. Even the first JN.1 sub-variant-infected patient tested RT-PCR positive on November 18 after arriving with modest ILI symptoms. Patient recovered.
Kerala reported 302 COVID cases and four deaths on December 16, the most since May 15, 2023. COVID data analyst NC Krishna Prasad reported 1,701 active cases in India, 1,523 from Kerala.
Doctors say most of these cases are mild and patients recover at home without therapy.
The ministry of health and family welfare held practice drills in hospitals nationwide to check their preparedness.
Conclusion
Within a week, Kerala recorded 277% more COVID-19 cases, with over 300 new cases in four days. Experts warn that high tourist season and Christmas and New Year may increase cases. Due to holiday activity and migration, instances are predicted to rise, but tests are restricted. Non-COVID respiratory infections circulate. For safety, especially those with co-morbidities, avoid crowded indoor activities and wear masks. JN.1, a novel COVID sub-variant, can avoid human antibodies. Hospitals are testing influenza-like sickness samples from the elderly and fragile as COVID spreads swiftly. Most individuals heal at home without therapy from minor instances. The ministry of health and family welfare holds mock exercises to evaluate hospital readiness.
