The picturesque Idukki district, bordering Tamil Nadu, and neighbouring Kottayam have the Kerala government worried because fresh Covid-19 cases have been reported over the past few days.

Kerala, which had reported many cases in the initial days of the outbreak, went on to become the foremost state in containment.

Among the new cases in Idukki are three nurses, while local MLA E.S. Bijimol has been quarantined after coming in contact with a Covid-19-positive person.

Idukki, along with Kottayam, had not reported a coronavirus case for a long time. But since early last week, Kottayam has reported 18 new cases and Idukki 13.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told his daily media briefing on Tuesday that Idukki and Kottayam would be under heavy police security.

Kerala reported four new cases — three from Kannur and one from Kasaragod — and an equal number of people discharged from hospital on Tuesday. This took the total number of cases in the state to 485, including three deaths, 359 recoveries and 123 patients currently in hospital.

Minister M.M. Mani, who is in charge of Idukki’s Covid-19 response, told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the situation in the district called for extra attention since it borders Tamil Nadu.

“A majority of the new cases are people who had travelled to Tamil Nadu. Although there are police posts at the borders, there are alternative pedestrian routes through the forest,” Mani said, without blaming anyone.

“We have a historical relationship with Tamil Nadu. More than 2 lakh Tamil people are part of our population. So there has been movement across the border, which is why we see the surge in positive cases,” he said.

The Idukki administration has enforced prohibitory orders in 28 wards bordering Tamil Nadu to prevent people from crossing the border.

“The committee of local residents formed to keep a watch on anyone crossing the border has worked well. But since it’s a hilly and wooded area, people still find loopholes,” Mani said.

The minister said he was trying to get permission to test samples in Ernakulam and Alappuzha, besides Kottayam.

“We have to take the samples to Kottayam medical college. Since we are increasing testing, we need more labs. So we are trying to get the government’s clearance to take samples to Ernakulam and Alappuzha as well,” Mani added.

Since six of the 14 Kerala districts border Tamil Nadu, Mani said vigil had been intensified in all of them.

Idukki medical officer N. Priya told reporters that one of the 13 new cases was an elderly man who had been picked up for random testing.

“After a lot of questioning he said his son is a driver who often goes to Tamil Nadu. Now we are waiting for him to return,” Priya said.

But she ruled out community spread as of now. “We can’t call any of these cases as community spread. These cases are emerging from random testing,” she said.