<span style="color: #222222;">Kerala continues to report surge in COVID cases as it confirmed 35,636 new COVID positive cases on Saturday. The test positivity rate is 24.33 percent. 15,493  recoveries were also reported today. 48 deaths were also confirmed due to COVID today taking the death toll to 5,356 in the state. At present 3,23,828 people are undergoing COVID treatment in Kerala.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">While briefing the media Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stressed the importance of the active participation of local bodies to curb the COVID spread. The CM further said that discussions are continuing with the vaccine manufacturers and all measures will be taken to make the vaccine accessible to the public soon.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">As the state is all set to witness the assembly election results tomorrow, the Chief Minister demanded that people should not gather at the counting centres and should strictly refrain from engaging in victory celebrations and mass gatherings.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, the Election Commission has completed all the necessary arrangements required for a smooth and hassle-free poll counting tomorrow.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">There are 633 vote-counting rooms in 114 centres throughout the state. Chief Electoral Officer Tikaram Meena said that counting of votes in EVM will be set up in 527 rooms and postal votes will be counted in 106 rooms. More than four and a half lakh postal ballots have been received so far. The timely updates of the election results will be available live on the website "<a href="http://results.eci.gov.in/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">results.eci.gov.in</span></a>".</span><br />''  <br />