Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 29 (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday that 10 more persons have tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state, taking the total number of people currently undergoing treatment to 123.

In all, Kerala has reported 495 Covid-19 cases so far.

"Today's positive cases include three medical professionals and a TV journalist from Kasargode," said Vijayan.

"A total of 20,172 people are under observation at their homes while 551 others have been kept under observation at different hospitals across the state," said Vijayan.

Six districts -- Kannur, Kozhikode, Kasargode, Malappuram, Kottayam and Idukki -- are in the red zone. All the remaining eight districts are under orange zone.

"Today there are 102 hotspots in the state," added Vijayan.

"The state is passing through very tough times and there has been a sharp decline in state's revenues. It's in this context that we decided to defer state government employees' salary for 5 months, with six days salary to be cut every month. But the High Court stayed it, so we have decided to bring an ordinance and have sent it to the Governor," added Vijayan.