Three more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala on Monday, taking the number of affected cases to 24, as the government decided to strengthen surveillance by monitoring all passengers reaching the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.While two people tested positive in Malappuram, one positive case was from Kasaragod district, Vijayan told reporters after presiding over a meeting to review the virus situation and an all party meeting here.

"The total number of people under surveillance are 12,740, of whom 270 are in hospitals and the rest under home quarantine," he said.Vijayan said the pandemic has affected the state's economy as the business sector has come to a standstill affecting the small, medium and large-scale sectors.

"The small, medium and the large-scale sector all are affected by the pandemic. The transport sector is also badly hit.The state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is suffering crores of loss per day. That's the same with the private sector also," the chief minister said.He said restrictions in the tourism sector has been affecting thousands of other related fields in the industry."The tourism sector and its ancillary industry is affected a lot. We will discuss the matter with the State Level Bankers' Committee and find a solution," Vijayan said.The governement has also decided to screen domestic passengers at the airports, Vijayan said and sought the help of retired and experienced hands in the medical field to volunteer themselves to assist the health department.

"We are in need of more health volunteers. The state requires experienced hands to fight the pandemic. The new volunteers will be given appropriate training by officials.Experienced and retired hands can also give training to new volunteers," Vijayan said.People have been asked not to throng places of worship, he said and sought the cooperation of the faithful to fight the virus."Foreign countries have decided that the devotees can perform the prayers at home itself. There is need to reduce the crowds in places of worship, be it a mosque, church or temple.The state government has held discussions with the religious leaders to implement it in an effective manner," Vijayan said.An all party meeting was held on Monday to discuss the virus outbreak and measures being taken by the government to fight it.All political parties have extended their support and cooperation to combat the coronavirus threat, Vijayan said.

Meanwhile, at least 25 doctors, including the medical superintendent and assistant superintendent, nurses and technicians are among the 75 employees of a premier health institute here who have been kept under isolation in the wake of a Spain returned doctor testing positive for the virus."Though there is no shutdown, only emergency surgeries are being held at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology institute," sources told PTI.

At least 50 doctors of the Medical college here and another hospital at Kollam have been placed under isolation after a patient under observation managed to flee and met with an accident.His samples were later found negative.

A 30-year-old man, who reached Chalakudy from Dubai and was under observation, met with a motorcycle accident and died at a hospital, according to officials.Doctors who treated him also are under observation.The body will be cremated only after the test results are out.

A foreign national who reached the Kollam railway station on Monday was shifted to the medical college hospital there after she displayed extreme symptoms of fever and temperature.Two tourists--an Italian and another from UK--are among those who have tested positive for the virus in the state.A French couple travelling in a bus to Kannur were examined by doctors after some passengers raised an alarm.

As they were found normal, they were allowed to leave for the resort they had booked.With Kerala on high alert for coronavirus, foreign tourists visiting the state are finding it difficult to get accommodation and move around.The government has disapproved of such acts and asked people not to see every foreigner as a COVID-19 carrier.The chief minister warned those who tease tourists and said they must not be disturbed.

Four people have been arrested for allegedly locking up an elderly couple, who were in self-quarantine following the COVID-19 scare, in their flat in an apartment complex at Thrissur on Monday.The Kerala Public Service Commission has announced that all examinations and interviews scheduled till April 14 have been postponed. The PSC has also deferred the dates of departmental exams too,a senior official said.

Meanwhile,the KSRTC has decided to disinfect all buses before they start their service everyday.Thermal checks are being carried out in trains at various places in Kerala.

Source : PTI