THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to increase, Kattakada in Thiruvananthapuram has been declared as a COVID hotspot. Six wards in Kattakada Grama Panchayat (16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21) have been identified as containment zones.

Meanwhile, 16 places have been excluded from the list of COVID hotspots in the state. The places are Chittur-Thathamangalam, Kannadi, Sreekrishnapuram, Koduvayur, Kollengode, Pattambi, Puthupariyaram and Koduvayur in Palakkad, Vellavoor, Payippadu, Changanassery municipality, Madappally, Aymanam, Kangazha and Thrikodithanam in Kottayam and Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad. At present, there are 110 COVID hotspots in the state.