THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state confirmed 1899 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, Health Minister KK Shailaja said. Among these, 1643 persons developed the disease through contact including 173 cases without an identified source of infection. 64 persons who came from outside the state tested positive for the virus. 19 health workers contracted the disease on Thursday.

So far, 101 people who returned from the UK, 4 from South Africa and 1 from Brazil tested positive for COVID-19. Among them, 11 patients have been identified with the mutant virus strain.

2119 patients tested negative for the virus today. As of now, there are 25,158 active cases in the state.

The state confirmed 15 deaths due to the virus on Thursday with the toll rising to 4450.

District wise breakup of positive cases:

Kozhikode- 213

Thiruvananthapuram- 200

Kollam- 188

Ernakulam- 184

Kannur- 161

Kottayam- 158

Pathanamthitta- 148

Malappuram- 146

Thrissur- 131

Alappuzha- 121

Kasargod- 104

Palakkad- 67

Idukki- 54

Wayanad- 24

In the last 24 hours, 54,314 samples have been tested. The test positivity rate stands at 3.5.

With the removal of 2 regions, there are 353 hotspots in the state.