They had predicted that the number of covid cases per day could even top the 10,000 mark in the coming month.

For the first time, the State saw the cases crossing the 2000 mark on Wednesday. The day recorded 2,333 cases.

The number has been steadily increasing over the last week. The fact that the rise from over 1000 cases daily to more than 2000 cases per day took just about 10 days is self-explanatory.

What is causing grave concern is that over 90 per cent of the cases are through contacts. For instance, in Thiruvananthapuram district which is the hottest spot in the State right now, out of the 2333 cases on Wednesday, as many as 2151 cases were through contacts.

The situation is similar in Malappuram district, next only to Thiruvananthapuram in the matter of fresh cases. Malappuram has been reporting over 250 daily cases over the last three four days with contacts accounting for majority of the fresh cases.

Other districts where the situation has gone from bad to worse are Wayanad, Ernakulam, Kasaragod, Kollam and Alappuzha. Here again, the villain has been contacts.

Equally worrying is the scary spike in in the number of patients whose source of infection is unknown. This is true more or less of almost all the districts.

Moreover, deaths due to covid 19 are also on the rise. On an average two to three persons are dying daily. The total number of deaths is close to 200. The figure is still low compared to neighb ouring states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. But that is cold comfort in an otherwise serious situation.

As if all this is not enough, more and more health workers are also falling victim to covid 19. This has increased the pressure on the State’s health infrastructure which is already under severe strain. It is clear that the Government is aware of the grim situation. Recruitment of doctors, nurses and other health staff is on in right earnest to cope with the serious situation.

With the onset of the Onam season, the Government has announced a number of precautionary measures. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested the people to confine the celebrations to their houses in view of the surge in covid cases.

The Government has its task cut out. The coming weeks could witness the covid situation worsening. The need of the hour is total unity in dealing with the grave situation. The Opposition parties would do well to stop playing politics and do their bit to counter the spread of the dreaded virus. (IPA Service)