Kerela Complete Lockdown
Kerala govt has decided to impose lockdown on the weekends seeing the rise in covid cases. The sudden rise in covid positive cases has become an issue of serious concern for Kerala and its government. Kerala alone has the contribution of 37.1% in total positivity cases in the country, and currently, it has recorded a total of 1.54 lakh positive cases which is going on to increase at the rate of 1.7%. It has more than 17,400 cases and six districts are having a more than 10% positive rate.
Union Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, has said that the Central Government is to send the team of six members which is to be headed by the director of National Centres for Disease Control, Dr. S K Singh. This high-level-six-member team will help in the effective management in controlling the Covid crisis in the state and will be working with State Health Authorities to take effective measures on public health. Mansukh tweeted from his account, regarding the team of six members, “Central Government is sending 6 member team to Kerala headed by NCDC Director.
A large number of COVID cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid the state’s ongoing efforts in #COVID19 management.” Kerala has recorded more than 22000 cases in a week. As of July 28, Kerala recorded 22,056 fresh positive cases which add to the total of 33,27,301, and with 131 more deaths, the death toll rose to 16,457. State Government released a report according to which the current positivity rate of Kerala is 1,49,534.
Banking and all other financial institutions are also to remain completely close during the weekend lockdown, which will come into force from 31st July to 1st August. According to Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs), places with low Test Positivity Rate (TPR) will have some relaxation, and places with high Test Positivity Rate will have strict restrictions. There are rules and relaxations for certain organizations and industries during the lockdown.
The organizations working regarding Covid are permitted to function and the officers of such are also permitted to the movements or only for work; patients who are independent help or people meeting for vaccinations are also allowed to go out for such during the lockdown with valid IDs; shops for household grocery shopping are permitted to remain open, hotels and restaurants are to remain close for both dine-in and takeaways, only home delivery services are permitted; long- buses and trains are to allow for traveling of passengers with all the Covid safety protocols; marriage ceremonies or housewarming ceremonies are also allowed but only if they are registered under Covid Jagratha portal, following all the strict Covid safety protocols.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that “22,056 people tested positive after 1,96,902 samples were sent for testing in the latest 24-hour period”. Palakkad, Kollam, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Thrissur, and Kannur are the worst affected areas of the State of Kerala from Covid-19. Of these districts, Malappuram has the highest record with 3,931 cases.