Kerala Tightens Lockdown Measures As State Reports 30K Covid Cases Daily, Night Curfew Imposed

For the fourth consecutive day, Kerala has reported more than 30,000 fresh covid-19 cases on Saturday and it is at least 70% of the number of cases reported in the country in a day.

Chennai: With the number of fresh covid-19 cases reported in Kerala continues to be high, the Kerala government has decided to impose night curfew in the state from Monday. No people would be allowed to step out of their houses unnecessarily from 10 pm to 6 am. 

Kerala has also reinstated Weekend lockdown from Sunday. 

However, the state government has given some exceptions. According to a government order issued in this regard, medical emergencies and bystanders for patients in hospitals, goods vehicles, employees engaged in emergency services, people attending the death of immediate relatives, long distance travellers to reach their destination and people boarding train, ship, flight and other public transport are exempted from the restriction. 

The order further said that special intensified stringent lockdown restrictions will be enforced in urban wards and panchayats where the weekly infection population ratio (WIPR) is above seven. 

According to a report from the Indian Express, the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke to media persons after chairing a meeting in this regard, He said that a meeting with health experts, doctors treating covid-19 patients and leading virologists would be held on Wednesday to analyze the present situation and to prepare strategies to contain the spread, according to the report. 

Quoting Vijayan, the report further said that the increase in covid-19 cases was due to the relaxation of the lockdown restrictions for the Onam festival. 

The report further said that during the meeting it was decided to depute IPS officers in all districts apart from deputing an official in the rank of additional SP as covid control nodal officer in each district to contain the covid-19 spread. 

For the fourth consecutive day, Kerala has reported more than 30,000 fresh covid-19 cases on Saturday and it is at least 70% of the number of cases reported in the country in a day. While the number of active cases in the state is 2.04 lakh, the country’s active caseload is 3.59 lakh.