Kerala recorded 13,832 new COVID-19 cases and 171 deaths on Saturday, taking the caseload to 26,86,630 and the toll to 10,975. A total of 18,172 people recuperated from the disease, pushing the tally of those cured to 25,75,769. Currently, there are 1,29,488 people under treatment. Health Minister Veena George said 1,08,734 samples were tested in the last 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 12.72 per cent. Till now 2,11,26,248 samples have been tested. Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest number of fresh cases 2,234, followed by neighbouring Kollam with 1,592 and Ernakulam (1,539). Of those found infected today, 82 reached the state from outside while 12,986 contracted the disease from their contacts.The source of infection of 700 is yet to be traced and 64 health workers are also among the infected, the minister said in a release.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday cautioned that the chances of a third Covid wave were quite real, and asserted his government was preparing on a war-footing to combat it. He said that the indications of a third wave are coming from the UK where coronavirus cases are rising again despite 45 per cent of its population being vaccinated. So, we cannot afford to sit idle, he told an online event to inaugurate 22 new PSA oxygen plants at nine hospitals across Delhi. He said these plants have a total production capacity of 17.3 MT, and they will strengthen the preparations to fight Covid. As many as 17 more oxygen plants will be started by July, he said.