The Kerala government has revised COVID-19 guidelines, allowing photo studios to now open on permitted days in the wake of requirements for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Shops selling seeds and fertilisers were also categorised under essential services in a recent government order. The price section of the Economics and Statistics department also included an essential category, so that such shops can open on all days with the required staff.
COVID-19 regulations in Kerala are based on a seven-day average of Test Positivity Rate (TPR) in Local Self-Government Institutions. Accordingly, LSGIs with low TPR will have certain relaxations and places with high TPR will have stringent restrictions. The recent government order also says that on July 31 and August 1, the state will witness a full lockdown.
Rules during full lockdown
1. All State and Central Government Offices and their autonomous bodies, Corporations etc. dealing with emergency and essential services and COVID-19 containment and management duties shall be fully functional and officers/personnel of the same shall be allowed unrestricted movement.
2. All Industries/companies/organizations dealing with emergency and essential services and requiring operations 24x7 shall be permitted to operate.
3. Employees and vehicles of Telecom and internet service providers shall be allowed movement on producing valid ID cards issued by their respective organization/institution. Only essential staff/employees of IT and ITeS organizations shall work from office.
4. Patients and their attendants/persons requiring emergency need, eligible people intending to take vaccination shall be allowed movement with valid ID proof.
5. Only neighborhood shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, toddy, meat and fish are allowed to function from 7 AM to 7 PM. Home delivery of essential items shall be encouraged to minimize movement of individuals outside their homes.
6. Takeaway/Parcels from Hotels are not allowed. Only Home delivery of food is permitted.
7. Movement of long-distance bus services, trains and air travel are permitted. Movement of public transport, goods carriage vehicles and private vehicles and taxis, (including cabs by aggregators) to and from airports, railway stations and bus terminals/stops/stands is allowed for facilitating movement of passengers.
8. Marriages and housewarming ceremonies registered in COVID jagratha portal are permitted strictly adhering to COVID protocols.
The latest serosurvey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) done between June 14 and July 6 has found that at least two-third of the population surveyed in 11 states were found to have developed coronavirus antibodies. Madhya Pradesh leads the chart with 79% seroprevalence while Kerala is at the bottom with 44.4%. This means that Kerala, which had successfully managed to curtail the first wave, has more people who are susceptible to infection.
The move to ease certain restrictions came even as there seems to be no reduction in the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Kerala. On Wednesday, the number of fresh COVID-19 cases crossed 20,000 for the second successive day. A statement issued by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 22,056 people tested positive after 1,96,902 samples were sent for testing in the latest 24-hour period.
On Tuesday, 22,129 people had tested positive. The only solace on Wednesday was that the test positivity rate fell from 12.35% on Tuesday to 11.20%. Presently, there are 1.49 lakh active cases, after 17,761 people recovered on Wednesday, taking the total figure in the state to 31.60 lakh. Another 131 COVID-19 deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 16,457. There was a spurt in every Kerala district as the number of samples going for testing rose, with Malappuram district leading the charts with 3,931 new cases, followed by Thrissur with 3,005.
IANS Inputs