The steady rise in the number of positive cases over the last few days poses a big challenge for the medical staff already struggling to cope with the work load. The Health Department has hinted at the need to change the strategy adopted so far.

Indians returning from abroad account for majority of the positive cases. With more expatriates set to return in the days ahead, the pressure on hospitals is bound to increase. In such an event, the idea is to admit the most serious patients to hospital while sending those with mild symptoms and asymptomatic patients to home isolation.

It has also been decided to increase the number of tests. As many as 10,000 tests will be done against the average 3,000 so far. The Government is to import more than 40,000 test kits, which are expected to be made available in the next three to four days.

Meanwhile, yet another death due to covid has occurred in the State A 61-year-old person, who returned from Mumbai on May 21, has died in the Manjeri Medical College. With this, the number of covid deaths in the State has gone up to 15.

In another unfortunate development, the death of an elephant has kicked up a political controversy in the State.

The gruesome incident occurred in Palakkad district, a pregnant elephant died after chewing on a pineapple stuffed with crackers. The cracker exploded in the mouth of the elephant resulting in painful death for the pachyderm.

In a prompt action, the Kerala police have arrested three persons in connection with the incident which has evoked wide condemnation. Pineapples stuffed with crackers are used by farmers to scare away wild boars which try to eat away their crops.

That such an incident should happen in a highly literate state like Kerala is bad enough. What is even more shocking is the disgusting attempt to play politics over the unfortunate incident.

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi set the ball rolling by saying that the incident occurred in the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district. The targeting of a particular community in this regard has come in for strong criticism. The unfortunate episode has acquired a new dimension with a case being filed against the Union minister and a few Kerala BJP leaders for trying to communalise the issue.

Another development which has hit the headlines is the decision of a distraught mother to move the Kerala High Court seeking a direction from the Kerala High Court to stop telecast of online classes till all students get the facilities.

The petition has come in the wake of the unfortunate death of a girl student in Malappuram district because she could not gain access to internet to attend online classes.

The High Court has also asked private schools, in another order, not to levy additional fees from students. The order came in a petition filed by two students who said they were charged additional fees for online classes. This, they said, is in violation of the Constitutional guarantee of the right to education. (IPA Service)