THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala recorded 7006 cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, Health Minister KK Shailaja said. This is the highest single-day spike in the state. Among the new cases, 6668 persons developed the disease through contact including 664 cases without an identified source of infection. 68 had returned from abroad while 177 had from other states. 93 health workers also tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours.

3199 coronavirus patients tested negative for the virus in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases in the state has crossed 50,000.

District wise break up of positive cases:
Thiruvananthapuram- 1050
Malappuram- 826
Ernakulam- 729
Kozhikode- 684
Thrissur- 594
Kollam- 589
Palakkad- 547
Kannur- 435
Alappuzha- 414

In the last 24 hours, 58,799 samples have been tested.

The toll has climbed to 656 with 21 more fatalities, the minister said.

At least, 2,22,330 people are under observation, including 27,883 who are in hospitals, including 3,446 admitted today.