Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan urged states to limit activity during the festive season (File)
The recent spike in coronavirus cases in Kerala - confirmed infections increased by around 1.35 lakh between October 1 and 17 - is the result of "gross negligence during Onam", Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said Sunday afternoon.
Dr Vardhan said the state's "epicurve had changed completely due to Onam festivities... daily new cases nearly doubled" and, ahead of a prolonged pan-India festival season that includes Diwali and Dussehra, warned other states against negligence in Covid planning at this time.
"Kerala is paying the price for gross negligence during recent Onam festivities, when state-wise unlocking of services with increase in inter and intrastate travel for trade and tourism led to the spreading of COVID-19 cases. The epicurve of Kerala changed completely... daily new cases nearly doubled," Dr Vardhan said during "Sunday Saamvad", his weekly social media interaction.
"This ought to serve as a good lesson for all state governments against being negligent in planning for the festival season," he added.
Dr Vardhan's criticism came hours after a central government-appointed committee cautioned that relaxing Covid-related restrictions during the festive season (and the winter months) could lead to a sharp increase in new cases - as many as 26 lakh within a month.
Pointing to Kerala, the committee said there is "evidence large gatherings can cause rapid spread (of the virus)" and that infection probability increased by 32 per cent after September 8.
Kerala recorded over 1.35 lakh new Covid cases between October 1 and October 17
Responding to the remarks, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Sunday evening said: "Today, a section of media misinterpreted Dr Harsh Vardhan's statement, quoted him as saying that 'Kerala is the worst in the Covid prevention activities'. I called up Sir to get a clarification from him. He said he didn't say it like that."
"People didn't obey the guidelines of the government or the advisories of the health ministry, which led to some gatherings in Kerala. This led to increase in positive cases. He (Dr Harsh Vardhan) said that after Onam, cases increased and clusters occurred in some places. That is correct. This is our opinion also. Chief Minister has been saying that... after Onam season, not only Onam season but also protests by some political parties, amid some celebrations during festivals. Some marriage functions also had huge gatherings," she added.
"But sir didn't say that 'Kerala is (the) worst in Covid prevention'. He has always encouraged us."
"But 80 per cent of people in Kerala are obeying the guidelines. Also, I pointed out that the mortality rate in Kerala is reducing... because Kerala is working hard to save people," the Kerala Health Minister stressed.
Kerala celebrated Onam between August 22 and September 2. The following day Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of "Onam clusters" and said these could lead to a jump in new cases.
"Charity must take precedence over celebration this festive season. My own celebrations shall remain subdued due to the heart-rending impact of COVID-19 on lakhs of people," Dr Vardhan said on Sunday.
This is the second time in a week that Dr Vardhan has spoken about an increase in cases because of activity during the festive season. During last week's "Sunday Saamvad" the Health Minister urged people against congregating in large numbers to prove your faith or religion.
"No religious leaders say that festivals should be celebrated by putting lives in danger... no Gods say you need to go to big pandals to pray," he said, appealing to people stay indoors as much as possible.
Dr Vardhan also dismissed reports that the Covid virus had mutated in India and would prove more difficult to protect against by any vaccine that may become available in the near future.
India has reported close to 75 lakh Covid cases since the outbreak began in China's Wuhan in December last year. This morning the Health Ministry said over 62,000 new cases had been detected in the past 24 hours.
The good news, though, is that the increase to active caseloads has been falling over the past weeks. On Friday this figure dropped to below eight lakh for the first time in 46 days.
The government-appointed committee that released its findings today also said that India had crossed the coronavirus peak and predicted that the epidemic could be brought under control by early next year if all measures were followed.