THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has confirmed 1298 new COVID cases on Thursday, Health Minister KK Shailaja said. This is the highest single-day spike of COVID positive cases recorded by the state. Among the new cases, 1017 persons developed the disease through contact including 76 cases without an identified source of infection. 78 persons had returned from abroad, while 170 had returned from other states.

Meanwhile. 800 patients tested negative for the virus on Thursday, the minister added. 29 health workers developed the disease in the last 24 hours.

District wise breakup of positive cases:

Thiruvananthapuram- 219
Kozhikode- 174
Kasaragod- 153
Palakkad- 136
Malappuram- 129
Alappuzha- 99
Thrissur- 74
Ernakulam- 73
Idukki- 58
Wayanad- 46
Kottayam- 40
Pathanamthitta- 33
Kannur- 37
Kollam- 31

The state confirmed three COVID deaths on Thursday. The deceased have been identified as Kasargod Manjeswaram native Khadeehja (51), Kasargod Uppala native Shaharbanu (73) and Thiruvananthapuram Vizhinjam native Silva Adimai (63).