News Analysis India

Tag: Kerala lockdown

  • Kerala allows opening of electronic shops, film shooting; CM bats for lockdown extension

    By PTI
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concessions on certain activities like opening of electronic shops, film shooting and the number of people allowed into places of worship were announced on Saturday by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who said restrictions were also needed to overcome the serious situation that Kerala was facing.

    The Chief Minister said that the restrictions, including lockdowns, no matter how limited, were causing huge economic and social problems and therefore certain concessions were being allowed after evaluating the course of the COVID-19 infection on a daily basis.

    He, however, also said that the restrictions, which are causinga variety of reactions in Kerala, are needed as it was only with the help of the existing controls that the state was able to keep the pandemic from going out of control and overburden the health infrastructure.

    Announcing the concessions at a press conference here, Vijayan said that in view of Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha) being celebrated on July 21 in the state, textiles, footwear shops, jewellery, fancy stores, shops selling home appliances and electronic items, all types of repairing shops and shops selling essential items shall be allowed to open on July 18, 19 and 20 from 7 AM to 8 PM in category A, B and C areas.

    In D category areas, these shops can function only on July 19, he said.

    Areas with a Test Positivity Rate of less than five per cent are included in category A, those with 5 to 10 per cent are included in category B, areas with 10 to 15 per cent in category C and those above 15 per cent will be in category D.

    “Along with the other permitted activities, electronic shops and electronic repair shops can also be opened on all days from 7 AM to 8 PM in category A and B areas and during permitted days in other categories,” he said.

    Besides that, beauty parlors and barber shops can function for hairstyling only on the days on which other shops are permitted in A and B category areas, he said and added that owners of such establishments should ensure that their staff have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

    Places of worship can be allowed with a maximum of 40 people on special occasions of celebration, the Chief Minister said and added that people in charge there should ensure that the number is maintained.

    He said that only people who have received at least one dose of vaccine should be allowed to enter places of worship.

    He also said that the number of pilgrims who could participate in the pooja at Sabarimala has been increased from 5,000 to 10,000.

    Since shooting of serials has been allowed in the state, film shoots shall also be permitted in category A and B areas, subject to strict adherence to the COVID protocols.

    Entry at all these places should be allowed only to those who have received at least one dose of vaccine, he said.

    Vijayan also said that the vaccine received from the Centre was being administered with minimal wastage.

    He said the government hopes to fully vaccinate 60-70 per cent of the state’s population within the next two-three months and added that if everyone gets vaccinated and strictly follows the COVID protocols, “we can ride out the second wave and avoid the third wave of the virus.”

  • Lockdown in Kerala to continue till Covid situation improves: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday indicated that the ongoing lockdown will continue till the spread of Covid is contained.  

    The aim of the government was to bring the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) below 10% as early as possible, the CM said.

    “Since the number of people who have not contracted the disease is high in Kerala compared to other places, it is very important to bring down the prevalence of the virus. This is why a decision was taken to extend the lockdown. If the prevalence of the virus is not brought down, the spread of the disease will rise further,” Pinarayi said.

    ALSO READ |  It’s time for at least a phased unlock in Kerala

    The Chief Minister said the average TPR of the past three days has narrowly come down to 13,9%. However, the number of new cases has increased in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kannur, and Kasaragod and TPR in these districts is coming down only at a slow pace.

    Pinarayi said the state was able to bring down the number of fatalities due to the effective implementation of the lockdown and the people’s cooperation towards the restrictions. However, the Covid situation does not offer any relief, he added.

    The Chief Minister added that the Covid test certificate will not be mandatory during travel for those who have taken two doses of the Covid vaccine, provided they do not show any symptoms of the viral disease.

    Pinarayi also urged the people to cooperate with the total lockdown to be implemented in the state over the weekend.

  • Amid COVID, Kerala government to conduct medical audit of black fungus infection

    By PTI
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Saturday decided to conduct a medical audit of black fungus after reports emerged about the presence of the fungal disease in the state over the last one week.

    The decision was taken as some states have started notifying black fungus, found in patients recovering from coronavirus, as an epidemic.

    “A medical audit will be conducted on black fungus. The availability of medicine will be ensured. Medicines that do not have side effects are recommended to be given to the patients even if they are expensive”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a press conference here.

    He said many unscientific and frightening messages related to black fungus or mucormycosis are being spread in the state.

    “There is no basis for such concerns. There is no need for any panic”, he said.

    The government had recently said that 15 black fungus cases were reported in the state.

    Vijayan said mucormycosis is not a newly found disease in the country and added that since it was being reported in serious diabetic patients infected with COVID-19, a treatment protocol has been determined for such categories of people.

    The Chief Minister expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths due to COVID-19 and said the severity of the disease and the fatalities were increasing after the second wave has reached its peak.

    “This is a crucial time for hospitals and strong safety measures are required to deal with this phase. Our primary duty now is to save lives and whatever is possible will be done to ensure this”, Vijayan said.

    Kerala on Saturday logged 28,514 new COVID-19 cases and 176 deaths, taking the tally to 22.92 lakh and the toll to 7,170, The single day count of deaths is the highest in the state so far “The increasing number of deaths is a matter of concern. The severity of the disease and deaths are increasing after the second wave of COVID has reached its peak,” he said.

    The CM said the second wave has taught the state some new lessons.

    “While there is a strong possibility of a third wave, the government will immediately initiate strong measures to evaluate these experiences in detail and prepare for a better defence.

    The stringent vigilance of the people helped us contain the second wave and we should continue it in a similar manner for some more time”, he said.

    Vijayan said restrictions will be tightened in Malappuram district, which has the highest number of cases and where the test positivity rate is still high.

    “An action plan will be implemented for the district. On Monday and Tuesday, 75,000 sample tests will be conducted More police officers have been deployed in the district to ensure effective implementation of the existing regulations under the triple lockdown. Police have been directed to take all legal action against those violating the regulations”, he said.

    Meanwhile, officials in Kochi said that an oxygen express, loaded at Rourkela in Odisha for Kerala with seven containers, carrying 128.66 metric tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen, arrived in the city on Saturday.

    With this the total oxygen delivered for Kerala was 246.56 MT, they said.

    The Chief Minister also announced that there would be no SSLC IT practical examination.

    “The SSLC, Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary valuation will be held from June 1 to 19 and the SSLC valuation from June 7 to 25. Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary practical examinations will be held from June 21 to July 7. Teachers who go for valuation will be vaccinated and it will be completed before the valuation starts”, he said.

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  • Kerala, Rajasthan goes for lockdown; Maharashtra tops 60,000 cases again

    By Express News Service
    KOCHI/BENGALURU/DELHI/JAIPUR/MUMBAI:  While the Supreme Court directed the Centre to prepare for the third wave, the second wave itself was nowhere close it its peak, with the fresh case count on Thursday crossing the four-lakh-mark for the second time since April 30.

    Kerala, which accounted for over 10% of the nation’s tally, announced a rigourous nine-day complete lockdown till May 16, starting Saturday, as it recorded its highest single-day spike of 42,464 and 63 deaths.

    While Karnataka’s oxygen situation is yet to be resolved, the Centre challenged in the Supreme Court an order of the Karnataka High Court directing it to raise the state’s oxygen share. In Delhi, the city government was hauled over the coals by the high court after it objected to an observation that the existing medical infrastructure was ‘exposed’ and in ‘shambles’ when put to the test.

    The court ordered the Delhi government to provide medical treatment to all people suffering from Covid-19 in the city, which saw an addition of 19,133 new cases and 335 deaths. It got over 730 MT oxygen for the first time. Rajasthan, too, opted for a complete lockdown from May 10 to May 24 to flatten the curve. After almost a week of reporting less than 60,000 cases, Maharashtra’s tally increased by 62,194 on Thursday.