Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 (IANS) Kerala Health Minister K.K.Shailaja on Tuesday said that there were eight new coronavirus positive cases, taking the total number presently under treatment to 173.

Of the new cases, five came from Middle East, while 13 positive patients who turned negative was discharged.

In all, those presently affected and cured cases stands at 384.

"Today there are 1,06,511 under observation at homes and 564 at various hospitals in the state," said Shailaja.

In the past few days, the total number of those in observation has been coming down steadily as at one point of time early this month, there were over 1.80 lakh people under observation in homes.

--IANS sg/vd