THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister KK Shailaja said that the lack of caution during the local body elections was behind the current spread of COVID in the state. The minister's response came at a meeting convened by the Union Health Minister. She said that said the recent increase in the number of COVID cases was not the fault of the government.

According to the minister, people had gathered in defiance of the instructions and a group of people were not even ready to wear masks or follow social distancing norms. The Centre had directed five states, including Kerala, to take stern action following the increase in COVID cases.