Covid death toll in Kerala crosses 50,000 mark

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Covid death toll in Kerala crossed the 50,000 mark with the state recording 296 deaths on Tuesday. So far, the state has reported 50,053 Covid deaths.

Of the deaths, 19 were recorded over the last few days and 277 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court.

There are currently 1,27,790 people under surveillance in various districts, of whom 1,24,903 are in-home or institutional quarantine and 2,887 in hospitals, the release said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Veena George said that the state witnessed a sharp increase in COVID cases in the last week. In one week, there was a 100 percent increase in the number of patients. The minister also said that most of the newly infected patients belong to the 20-40 age group.