There are many factors behind Kerala’s success against the COVID-19 pandemic. And now it must be a feather in the state government’s cap to have at their disposal a faster and cheaper test kit for diagnosing the virus (“Kerala develops faster COVID-19 test kit,” April 18, Gulf Today).

Though it may be a bit early to speculate but the indications are that the state is on its path to flattening the infection curve. While strict vigilance and social distancing norms may need to be in place for some time more, the health and government machinery needs to be lauded for their efforts.

Rigorous contact tracing and mass quarantine measure got them the results. A lesson for other states in India.

Shashi P — By email