Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday, 24 May, said even though the number of Covid cases is coming down in the state, patients seeking hospital care has increased, so has the number of daily deaths.

On Monday, 24 May, the state saw 196 deaths, taking the death toll to 7,554.

"What we are told is that the hospital load of positive patients and also deaths will rise and it will come down in two to three weeks time," he added.

Vijayan also said that there are reports of both parents dying due to Covid and they have to decided on what the state government can do for the children and for that, we will work out something.

On vaccination, he said that it is the responsibility of the Centre to provide vaccines to those in the above 45 age category and for those in the age 18 to 45, the state government has commenced its work.

He said during the first wave, 106 private hospitals provided free treatment to Covid patients and now there are 252 private hospitals doing so.

"We urge more hospitals to join the Karunya scheme," he said.

So far, the state government has given Rs 122.65 crore as cost of treatment to these hospitals.

(This story was published from a syndicated feed. Only the headline and picture has been edited by FIT)