It was on January 30 that India recorded it's first case of coronavirus. A student from China's Wuhan University, who had travelled all the way back to her home in Kerala, and tested positive for the virus.
More than three months later, India is grappling with more than 57,000 coronavirus cases and hoping that simultaneous lockdowns will help the country flatten the curve.
Kerala, which had initially seen a spike in cases, has recorded zero cases in five days in the month of May. Though even the Centre has praised Kerala for its efforts, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had in most press meets said that it was too early to speak about achievements and people needed to be wary of the virus.
On Friday, however, the CM acknowledged that the curve has been flattened and that the state should take pride in its response.
"It has been 100 days today since the first COVID-19 case in the country was reported. The disease was first confirmed in a student who returned from Wuhan. In the beginning itself we were able to make sure that it wasn't transmitted to others. It was in the second week of March that the state witnessed the second wave. Two months after that, it can be said that the curve is flattened," Pinarayi said.
He added that Kerala has shown great courage and resolve. "Years from now, we should be able to look back & take pride in how we responded to this," he said.
The Chief Minister also added that the co-operation from the people of the state to ensure that home quarantine was followed strictly, made the state stronger in its fight.
On Friday, the state reported one new case of the virus. It was reported from Ernakulam district and the patient had returned from Chennai after the lockdown rules of travel were relaxed.
“He has kidney disease too,” the CM said.
What gives Kerala a lot of relief is that though the state had a total of 503 cases, just 16 people are under hospitalisation now. The samples of ten patients in Kannur turned negative for the virus.
A total of 20157 people are under surveillance- 19810 are in home quarantine and 347 are on isolation in hospitals. 127 people were admitted to hospitals on Friday for displaying symptoms of the virus.
Kerala has till now sent 35856 samples for examination. At present there are 33 hotspots in the state, including five in Kannur district, four in Wayanad, three in Kollam and one each in Ernakulam, Idukki, Kasaragod and Palakkad.
“The state has been successful in containing the virus but it should not be taken for granted. In the coming days that we should stay more united,” he said.
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