THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government on Sunday announced that four more areas have been added to the list of Covid-19 hotspots in Kerala.

The four new hotspots are Mananthavady municipality in Wayanad, Edakkattuvayal and Manjaloor panchayats in Ernakulam and Santhanpara panchayat in Idukki. According to health minister KK Shailaja, Mananthavady has been designated as a hotspot after it reported a positive case on May 2. She also added that Edakkattuvayal and Manjaloor panchayats in Ernakulam have been identified as hotspots after a Covid-19 patient from Kottayam had primary contact with the people there.

The minister also added that the restrictions will be strengthened in hotspots from Monday onwards. Though the government has announced relaxations in the third phase of the lockdown, hotspots have been exempted from them.