According to reports, the following are the updates on COVID-19 cases reported in Kerala as of Friday (23 May):

• Kerala has reported two COVID-19-related deaths in May, considered as the first fatalities after a prolonged gap of infections. The two patients, reportedly aged 59 and 64, died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
• The first patient was a native of Vazhayila in Thiruvananthapuram who died on 16 May. Meanwhile, the second patient hailed from Thalavur in Kollam, was admitted with respiratory issues on 19 May, and passed away the following day on 20 May.
• Reportedly, as of Friday (23 May), the Union Health Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard has not yet been updated with the most recent fatality. Furthermore, the Health Department confirmed that both deaths were due to COVID-19, however, the patients had underlying heart conditions and other comorbidities.
• An official has further stated that hospitals still follow the protocol of testing pregnant women and surgical patients for COVID-19, leading to incidental case detection, although routine fever patients are generally not tested. Additionally, as of Friday (23 May), the following is the current number of detected COVID-19 cases in Kerala:
• Kottayam (57), Ernakulam (34), and Thiruvananthapuram (30).
• Health officials continue to state that most infections remain mild, but individuals with pre-existing health conditions are still vulnerable to severe illness. While Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday (21 May) chaired a meeting of the state-level rapid response team, which reinstated the mask mandate in hospitals and ensured adequate availability of COVID-19 test kits.