With cases rising, Kerala govt set to impose tighter curbs in capital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Friday decided to implement strict restrictions in the state capital and Ernakulam district, among others, where Covid-19 positives cases and the number of those infected through contacts is on the rise.

State tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran told reporters here that the city corporation has decided to implement strict health protocol in the capital city with the number of cases shooting up.

The city corporation has taken steps to contain the pandemic. It has taken steps to disinfect the Saphalyam shopping complex and the Palayam Connemara market.

Other major shopping malls and institutions have been brought under scanner for stringent compliance of health protocol, Surendran said.

He said the state government has given strict instruction to the district administrations to take stern action, including cancellation of licence of those shops and other institutions which refuse to adhere to the health protocol.

The corporation had this morning disinfected the Connemara market and the Saphalyam shopping complex after an employee of a major store in the complex tested positive.

As of now, 18 wards of the corporation have been categorised as hotspots.

The situation in Ernakulam has also forced the state government to declare containment zones in many part of the district. Ernakulam had 191 patients till Thursday. “We will implement strict health protocol as the cases are increasing,” agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar said.

ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SHOPS WHICH DON’T ADHERE TO HEALTH PROTOCOL