Kerala reports one death, six new cases

 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Saturday one coronavirus patient died, six new cases were registered and four patients turned negative.

Vijayan said the person who died had returned from Dubai and was under treatment in Kochi.

"There are 1,34,370 people under observation. Of this, 620 are in state hospitals. The situation continues to be serious. We have decided to start rapid tests," Vijayan told the media after chairing a Covid-19 review meeting.

Just because there had been reduction in fresh cases, he said there should not be any relaxation in stringent practices being followed.

The government had decided to postpone the state entrance examination for all professional courses.

The Kerala Startup Mission has set up a breakcorona.in website where all ideas are being welcomed. An expert panel will vet the ideas and if found suitable will be implemented.

To reduce the stress caused by the lockdown, Vijayan said online counselling would be started.

The Chief Minister said 1,089 community kitchens had started functioning. On Saturday 49,000 people were served food and over 38,000 packets delivered to homes, he said and added, packets of essential items would soon be distributed through the ration shops.

Vijayan asked people not to prevent vendors to deliver newspapers at homes.

He said due to closure of liquor outlets some might be having withdrawal symptoms. If the medical professionals recommended they could be provided liquor and the state excise department would take not of it.

Meanwhile, the funeral service of the first coronavirus patient, Yakoob Hassan, 69, was conducted as per the WHO guidelines. "The body was interned according to the religious customs," said Health Minister K.K. Shailaja. IANS