IMA slams Kerala for lockdown relaxations
TRIVANDRUM: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has heavily criticised the Kerala government for easing lockdown restrictions while the spread of virus infections continues unabated.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the professional body of doctors warned that it would move the Supreme Court if the state was not enforcing the Covid appropriate behaviour.
The state allowed shops selling non-essential goods to open for three days for Eid celebrations and 10,000 devotees to pray at the Sabarimala hill shrine for six days.
It also allowed beauty parlors and barbershops to function partially and places of worship to accommodate 40 people on special occasions besides film shootings. The IMA says mass gatherings and religious congregations are something that Kerala can’t afford at this stage.
Kerala now tops in the number of new cases being reported daily, the test-positivity rate and the active caseload while it is second only to Maharashtra in total infections.
“Pained to see amidst the rise of cases and seropositivity Kerala has issued an order to ease out lockdown on the pretext of religious gatherings,” it said in a statement.
“Corona cases are mounting at a fast pace in Kerala, with some experts already hinting at the arrival of third-wave in the state.”
India reported 41,157 new cases during the last 24 hours and 39.24 per cent of them were from the southern state making up only 2.54 per cent of the country’s population.
The IMA welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to stop revenge tourism and not to invite the third wave following which many religious gatherings were cancelled.
It said the impending third wave was inevitable and it needs infrastructure augmentation, quantitative and qualitative preparedness and building awareness.
“With sustained progression of vaccination, avoiding mass gatherings is the responsible duty expected at this crucial time from every citizen of our country,” it said.
“The supreme court of India had also taken the issue, suo moto, and directed everyone to play a vigilant role to mitigate the third wave.”
With the dedicated and commited public health services, it said, the second wave is on the decline throughout the country, except in few states like Kerala and Maharashtra.
“In the larger interest of the country and wellbeing of humanity,” the MA strongly urged Kerala to immediately withdraw its order relaxing restrictions.
It demanded zero-tolerance to covid inappropriate behaviors and asked the state not deviate from its “statutory duty and vision to ensure the safety” of the people.