THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Saturday announced that 85 more persons, including 4 health workers, have tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state. Among the persons who tested positive on Saturday, 53 had recently returned from abroad (Kuwait-21, UAE-16, Saudi Arabia-7, Oman-4, Nigeria-3, Russia-2), while 18 had returned from other states (Maharashtra-6. Tamil Nadu-5, Delhi-4, Rajasthan-1, West Bengal-1, Uttar Pradesh-1). 10 persons contracted the disease through close contact.

Malappuram accounted for 15 positive cases, Kannur 14, Kozhikode 12, Alappuzha and Kasargod 9 each, Palakkad 8, Ernakulam 7, Idukki and Thrissur 4 each, while Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Wayanad reported one case each.

Meanwhile, 46 patients tested negative for the virus on Saturday, the minister added. The active cases in the state touched 1,342 while 1,045 people have recovered from the infection.

At least 2,35,418 people are under observation, 2,23,429in homes/institutional quarantine and 1,989 in hospitals, including 223 people admitted today.

Malappuram has the largest number of coronavirus cases at 205, followed by Palakkad (176), Thrissur (151) and Kannur (128).

Meanwhile, the state government relaxed the Sunday lockdown restrictions to allow devotees to visit places of worship, students to attend examinations and personnel for making arrangements for the exams.