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The southern Indian state of Kerala had almost 8,417 people under observation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) as of April 10, 2022. Of these, over eight thousand were confined to home or institutions, while over 150 patients were quarantined in designated isolation facilities. India recorded over 62 thousand active cases of the virus as September 1, 2022. The regions of Kerala , Karnataka and Maharashtra had the highest number of confirmed cases in the same time period.

Kerala’s links to Wuhan

On February 7, 2020, three Indians from Kerala were tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to India from Wuhan- the epicenter of the virus that has infected over 90 thousand people. Wuhan has been a popular destination among Keralites for its quality and affordable medical education. After conducting test swabs on all returnees, the Kerala government swung into immediate action by advising home quarantines for the people suspected to have been in contact with this coronavirus.

A state known for its healthcare performance

Kerala’s last major health scare was the Nipah virus in 1998, that returned in 2018, killing 17 people, along with almost six million cases of acute respiratory infections in 2016. Even then, Kerala is known to be India’s leading state for healthcare and medical literacy compared to the rest of the country. The southern state’s health department was reported to have been strictly following the protocols given by the World Health Organization to combat COVID-19. This preparedness seems to have borne good results so far with a high rate of recovery and containment of the virus.