THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has confirmed 78 new coronavirus positive cases on Friday, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said. Of the new cases, 14 each are in Thrissur and Malappuram, 13 in Alappuzha, 7 in Pathanamthitta, five each in Ernakulam and Palakkad, four each in Kollam, Kozhikode and Kasaragod, three each in Kottayam and Kannur, and once each in Thiruvananthapuram and Idukki.

Another COVID death was reported in the state in Kannur. Usman Kutty (71), who died on Thursday, was confirmed with COVID-19. He was suffering from heart and respiratory ailments. The total number of deaths due to coronavirus in the state has risen to 19

Among the new cases, 36 persons had returned from abroad and 31 persons had returned from other states. 10 persons developed the disease through contact.

Meanwhile, 32 coronavirus patients tested negative for the disease on Thursday. Seven of these patients are in Kollam, six in Palakkad, four in Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur (one Thiruvananthapuram native), two in Kozhikode and Kannur (one Kasaragod native) and one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kasaragod.