Kerala reports three Covid deaths in last 10 days
Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the surge in COVID cases, the state has reported deaths as a result of the infection. According to official data, there have been three deaths due to COVID-19 in the state in the last 10 days. Deaths are being confirmed even as testing continues to decline.
The Health Department has ordered the families of Covid victims to sign the protocol during the last rites. Alex Varghese, 70, a resident of Kumbhanad in Pathanamthitta, died of Covid on Sunday. “Alex was a heart patient who treated his son’s infections, he was a health worker.
Was fully vaccinated. But his condition worsened due to co-morbidities and he died after being hospitalized for two days,” said KM Thomas, an acquaintance. As per Covid protocols, his relatives and priests used EPI kits during the last rites celebrated at Salem Mar Thoma Church in Kumbhnad on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Veena George said the state has not let down its vigilance against Covid-19. “We have not reduced testing. It has ordered hospitals to test symptomatic patients. We have increased our vigilance after an increase in respiratory diseases and pneumonia among children has been observed in the last year.
But there is concern about the large number of senior citizens and those with co-morbidities. The deaths are not actually due to Covid, but due to complications due to co-morbidities”, Veena told TNIE.
Infection by Omicron subvariants; Health Minister says the situation is being monitored
“The recent infections are due to subvariants of Omicron. We are monitoring the situation through genomic testing of samples”, said Veena George.
Health experts said that given the recent increase in cases, they expect deaths due to Covid to increase. The state has recorded an increase in the number of daily cases (from 12 to 150) in a month. According to official data, 128 new cases were reported in the state on Tuesday. Active cases have also increased and the number has reached close to 1,000.
Health department official NC Krishnaprasad, who has been following Covid data since 2020, said the state has reported three of the eight deaths due to Covid in the country this month. “They will need 15 more days to get an accurate picture of Covid deaths. But it is unlikely that this wave will last long”, he said.
Deaths from COVID-19 are not reported unless tests are conducted. After the big wave of Covid subsides, the Health Department has relaxed the rules. “Testing has been limited to symptomatic patients. Let’s use antigen tests. State Treasurer of the Association of Private Hospitals of Kerala, Dr. E.K. “After the government withdrew the requirement to conduct tests on dead bodies, it has become less common to certify deaths due to COVID,” Ramachandran said.
