Kerala reports highest daily surge of 4,644 Covid cases, death toll at 519

: Kerala reported the

highest single day surge of COVID-19 cases- 4,644 on Saturday, taking the infection count to 1,31,025, while the toll mounted to 519 with 18 more deaths.

This is the third consecutive day that over 4000 cases have been reported from the southern state.

As many as 4,351 and 4,167 positive cases were detected on Thursday and Friday respectively.

With 2,862 recoveries today, the active cases touched 37,487.

So far, 92,951 people have recovered from the infection,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters.

Of the positive cases today, 36 had come from abroad and 229 from other states, while 3,781 were infected through contact and the source of infection of 498 people is not yet known, Vijayan said.

Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest number of cases 783, while Malappuram 517, Kollam and Kozhikode 389 each, Thrissur 342, Palakkad 330 and Ernakulam 320.

Two districts reported over 200 cases.

Eighty-six health workers were among those who were infected.

At least 2,17,695 people are under observation in various districts, including 25,161 in hospitals.

In the last 24 hours,m 47,452 samples were tested and so far 23,84,611 samples have been sent for testing, Vijayan added.