Thiruvananthapuram: Eighty-two people tested positive for COVID-19 in Kerala on Monday, with returnees from abroad and other states accounting for 72 cases, even as the toll climbed to 20 with the death of a man.
The 67-year-old had died on June 12. His samples tested positive today. A heart patient, he was also under treatment for chronic pulmonary disease.
Nine people have been infected through his contact. The COVID-19 tally in the state has climbed to 2,542, while 1,174 have recovered, including 73 who were discharged today, Health minister K K Shailaja said in a press release.
As of now, 1,348 people are under treatment. The highest number of cases was reported from Ernakulam 13, followed by Pathanamthitta 11, Kottayam and Kannur 10 each, Palakkad seven, Malappuram and Kozhikode six each, Alappuzha five, Kollam four, Thrissur and Kasargod districts three each, Idukki two and one each from Thiruvananthapuram (including the deceased) and Wayanad districts.
Of those diagnosed today, 49 were those who had come from abroad, including UAE-19, Kuwait-12 and 23 from other states.
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A total of 1,20,727 people are under observation in the state, out of which 2,023 are in isolation wards of various hospitals in Kerala.
At least five more areas have been categorised as hotspots and there are now 125 such areas in the state. Malappuram has 202 positive cases, the highest in the state, followed by Thrissur and Palakkad with 146 each. Kannur has 124 positive cases while Kasaragod has 101. Police said cases have been registered against 1,370 people for violating lockdown protocols.