Bakrid Effect? Kerala Records 22,129 New Covid Cases In A Single Day; Test Positivity Rate Soars To 12.35 Per Cent

In a concerning development, Kerala reported 22,129 new cases and 156 deaths in a single day yesterday, making it the first state in the last 50 days to report over 20,000 fresh Covid cases in a single day, reports Times of India.

Meanwhile, India recorded 42,948 Covid cases, the highest single-day count in 19 days since 8 July, when 43,494 infections were recorded.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court criticised the Kerala government for permitting a three-day relaxation in Covid-19 restrictions in the state ahead of Bakrid festival, saying the state government bowing to traders’ pressure by granting relaxations shows “sorry state of affairs”.

The SC also termed relaxations granted by the Kerala government for Bakrid “wholly uncalled for”, and added that the citizenry of India has been laid bare to the nationwide pandemic by the grant of such relaxations for Bakrid.

The SC said, “We direct Kerala to give heed to Article 21 read with Article 144 of the Constitution of India and follow our orders given in the Kanwar Yatra case.”

Notably, the CPM-led state government had decided to relax lockdown restrictions for three days from Sunday in view of the Bakrid festival.