Thiruvananthapuram: Three more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in the state. With this the total number of people in treatment for COVID-19 touched 24, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Two new positive cases have been confirmed in Malappuram and one in Kasaragod. The people confirmed with the disease were under observation after arriving from Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

12470 persons are in home quarantine and 20 in hospitals.

2297 samples have been d for testing today, out of which 1693 have turned negative. Also 72 persons have been admitted to hospitals today, he added.

He said the state has risen to the occasion and have been doing their best to see that things are control, but on the other side, its economy has started to get affected.
 
"The tourism industry has taken a beating. The state Transport Department, on account of lesser number of people on the road, has been affected badly. So we have decided to relax the road tax payments for private buses. Demands have also come from various quarters that there will soon be a slowdown of the economic activities and hence loan repayments moratorium have to be in place," he said.
 
CM also said that the state government has assured the Airport Authority of India of providing more facilities in the four airports of the state.
 
"We will help in setting up more counters at the airports, as health checks are required. All should see that airports should not be crowded by more people arriving to receive and see off passengers," he said.
 
He also asked the civil society to ensure that they behave according to the present situations and should desist from crowding.
 
"Marriages should see not more than 100 people taking part, likewise all religious festivals, should happen in a modest way," he added.
 
CM also said that there is no decision as of yet to close down beverages outlets.