<span style="color: #222222;">Kerala continued to report a hike in COVID positive cases, as the test positivity rate rose to 16.94 per cent. In all, 20,224 cases  tested positive within the past 24 hours. <br />''<br />''On the other hand, 17,142 recoveries were also reported. Death toll reached 19,345 as 99 deaths were confirmed due to COVID-19. The Active Caseload in the state is 1,82,285.</span>