Kerala health minister refutes allegation on testing number

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health minister KK Shailaja dismissed the allegation that the number of tests done in Kerala is lower than those in other states.

She said Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are in the top bracket if test-to-positive ratio is concerned. Cluster management to contain the disease was the plan from initial days and state is confident of containing the disease in developed clusters.

At present, Kerala is conducting over 22,000 tests (avg) every day. RT-PCR tests are being conducted in 25 labs across the state, which also include private labs.

TRUE-NAT tests are done in 19 government labs and 15 private labs. CB-NAAT tests are conducted in six government and nine private labs. For the samples collected from airports and clusters, antigen tests are being conducted in 10 labs. In total 84 labs are testing the samples in Kerala. Now, nine more labs in the government sector are getting ready for testing.

Kerala has the lowest mortality rate in the country. It has to be remembered that Kerala is home to the highest ageing population and there are many persons with lifestyle diseases. Despite all these factors, state could check the mortality rate, which is an achievement, she said. The large clusters in coastal areas of the capital was formed after the disease was imported from neighbouring district of Kanyakumari. In Kayamkulam, Aluva, Ponnani and Pattambi, clusters were formed from people who came from other states. When relaxations were allowed after lockdown, this was expected.

At present, state has 153 clusters of which 26 are under control. However, there are incidents when one cluster is being brought under control and in neighbouring areas other clusters are formed.

Kerala is well prepared to meet the increase in case load. In each district, 8,704 beds have been ensured in Covid hospitals alone. First-line treatment centres with 100 beds are being prepared by each panchayat.