kochi keralas current rate of recovery is its highest since the third phase of the pandemic started on may 4 even as the rate of active cases is also at its highest authorities and several experts cite this as an indication of things being under control or balanced though it would be more accurate to attribute this pattern to a less rigorous hospital discharge policy on the one hand and quicker and more testing on the otheras on july 3 the rate of recovery which was less than 50 before june 17 has gone up to 5719 while the rate of active cases has slipped to 423 the death rate which was 08 in the first week of june has come down to 05 on july 3 of the total 4864 positive cases reported in the state until july 3 2839 recovered while active cases are 2100the increased rate of recovery is attributed to the new discharge method where a patient can be discharged after he or she tests negative the first time itself earlier a patient had to be tested negative two consecutive time to be discharged it would take several days and repeated tests for a patient to test negative for two consecutive times as per the new norm most patients can be discharged after 10 days sources with the health department saidsimilarly the major reason for the increasing number of persons being tested positive is the introduction of the testing method using standard ag kit an antigenbased test which gives results in 30 minutes as the instant test is being done at airports more expatriates test positive on the day of arrival itself sources addedgovt has proposed swab collection at block phc levelshealth experts in the state foresee the chance of this trend of simultaneous increase in active cases and recoveries for some more time the number of cases is going up mainly because of increased flow of expatriates this trend of increasing positive cases may continue for quite some time similarly the number of recoveries also is going to rise so far as the rate of active cases and recovery rates maintain balance there wont be much problem said dr k p aravindan a noted health experthowever this trend demands more vigil on the part of authorities as well as the public he said the government has proposed to start swab collection at the block and phc level then more people who are asymptomatic will be tested this can play a key role in preventing the spread of the pandemic dr aravindan saidorganizations like indian medical association ima are of the opinion that quarantine and other covid control measures should be strictly enforced quarantine of suspected cases should be strictly monitored enforcement of other covid control measures like wearing of masks and social distancing should also be enforced in a rigorous manner the time for imparting awareness among the public in this regard is already over it is time to take strict action against those violating