New Delhi: With Kerala struggling to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, top government sources have said the rising Covid-19 cases in the southern state are expected to come down by the mid of this month if a “smart and strategic lockdown” is implemented.


Asserting the cases can only come down if strict lockdown is implemented, sources said there is no other way but to lock down areas where the infection rate is high.


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Sources said Kerala needs a strategic and smart containment, including a night curfew only in view of festivities to break the chain of transmission.


“The infection spread has been high for over a month and if strict lockdown is implemented now, in two weeks from now, by mid of September, Kerala will see start to see a decline in the number of cases,” sources told News 18.


Sources further said Kerala has not been following the Central government’s advice, adding that neighbouring states are feeling the impact as the southern state continues to report the highest daily cases in the country


Highlighting that the Covid patients recovering at home are not following all safety rules, sources said this is why Kerala is not able to contain the spread of the virus.


The weekly positivity rate in Kerala, which has logged over 40 lakh cases since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, remains at 14 to 19 percent.


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Over 20,000 people have so far lost their lives to the virus in Kerala, which is one of the top contributors in terms of daily cases and currently accounts for more than half of the active Covid-19 cases in the country.