Kerala Issues Fresh Covid-19 Guidelines as Cases Surge
Thiruvananthapuram: With a steady rise in Covid-19 cases, the Kerala Health Department has issued new protocols to curb the spread of infection. The state currently tops the national tally with 1,435 active Covid-positive cases. Eight Covid-related deaths have been reported since the recent surge began.
Under the new guidelines, all patients arriving at hospitals with fever symptoms must undergo Covid testing. An initial antigen test will be administered, and if the result is positive, it will be followed by an RT-PCR test for confirmation.
Health authorities have also advised individuals with pre-existing health conditions to wear masks. Masks are now mandatory for bystanders of hospital-admitted patients. Additionally, all Covid-positive individuals must be isolated in dedicated wards.
The move comes as schools and colleges in the state reopened this Monday, coinciding with a sharp increase in fever-related complaints. To prevent hospital-acquired infections, several private hospitals in Kerala have begun demanding a Covid-negative certificate from patients undergoing surgery—an extra precaution being implemented despite the new state protocols.
Across India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported 4,026 active Covid cases as of 8 a.m. Tuesday. Five fresh deaths in the past 24 hours have taken the national toll to 37.
Experts have emphasized that the current wave is not expected to overwhelm hospitals. “There is no need to panic,” health officials reassured, highlighting that the symptoms appear mostly mild.
This latest wave has been attributed to the emergence of two new sub-variants of the Omicron strain—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7—both descendants of the JN.1 variant. Their presence has been confirmed in India by INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium), under the Ministry of Health.
While the public is urged to remain cautious, authorities stress that basic precautions can go a long way in preventing further spread.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.