New Delhi: Amid the ongoing spike in Covid infections, Kerala on Sunday clocked 45,449 new cases, pushing the tally to 56,20,151 over the last 24 hours. The state also reported 38 deaths taking the toll to 51,816.
Meanwhile, with 27,961 recoveries, the active caseload of the southern state reached 2,64,638 and the test positivity rate 44.88%.
With the fresh Covid cases on Sunday, Kerala reported over 45,000 infections for the second day in a row. Kerala on Saturday had witnessed 45,136 new cases and 132 Covid related fatalities.
Earlier on Friday, Kerala logged 41,668 fresh infections and 33 fatalities, witnessing a spike in Covid cases by 206% as compared to last week.
Meanwhile, the one-day lockdown to check the rapid spread of the third Covid wave in Kerala kicked in on Sunday with only the emergency services allowed to operate in the southern state, according to a report on news agency PTI.
Most of the private vehicles were off the road other than those that were for plying for emergency purposes, and that too after showing necessary documents to the police proving the nature of the emergency.
In a bid to control the surge in cases, the Kerala government in a high-level meeting on Thursday had decided to impose lockdown-like curbs across the state on the next two Sundays.
Shops selling essential items such as milk, newspaper, fish, meat, fruits and vegetables were allowed to operate from 7am to 9pm.
People traveling to the airports or already booked tourist destinations were allowed to travel after showing necessary documents, including tickets to the police officers.
Only parcel services were allowed at the hotels and medical stores, media houses and telecom-Internet services despite the restrictions.
Earlier, the state Health Minister Veena George had said that 100% of the targeted population above the age of 18 years have been administered the first dose of Covid vaccine and 83% of the total population have got both the doses.