Kerala enters lockdown-like curbs

TRIVANDRUM: Kerala has imposed stricter measures to restrict the movement of people and crowding following the detection of ‘double mutant variants’ of SARS-COV-2 with high infectivity.

The test-positivity rate (TPR) remains alarmingly high over 20 per cent in the southern state for almost a week now and there was no sign of immediate relief.

Cinemas, shopping malls, and liquor outlets remain closed, and offices function with thin attendance ater a government order that came into force on Tuesday.

Public transport has few takers, while restaurants offer only takeaways and neighbourhood shops close early in the evening. “The state is witnessing an alarming surge in COVID-19 in all the districts as part of the second wave of the pandemic,” the state’s chief secretary VP Joy says in his order.

“Several measures have already been initiated to contain the spread of the pandemic. However, it has been assessed that further containment measures are necessary.”

In religious places, people can be allowed for worship with a two-metre social distance restricted to a maximum of 50 persons. All meetings should be online mode only.

Gymnasiums, clubs, sports complexes, swimming pools and entertainment parks shall also remain shut until further orders. Only electionrelated counting arrangements, essential and emergency services shall be allowed on May 1 and 2 and atendees should produce COVID negative certificates.

There is an urgent need to curtail the spread of the disease in the community through tougher restrictions without affecting economic activities and livelihoods,” it says.

The Covid 19 case numbers should be managed well below the coping capacity (surge threshold) of the health system so that the pandemic is under control.”

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government decided to go for stricter measures as an all-party meeting felt a full lockdown would affect the state’s economy. “But given the current dire situation, they believed that tighter controls and restrictions should continue,” he told a press conference.

“They have also expressed their support to the efforts of the government in tackling the Covid situation in the state.”

On Monday, Kerala reported 21,890 new cases of Covid-19 from 96,378 tests with a TPR of over 22 per cent.

It also confirmed 28 more deaths. Currently, there are 232,812 patients under treatment in Kerala.