32,680 cases, TPR 26.65%; 4,45,334 patients under treatment
Thiruvananthapuram, May 15: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today informed that strict restrictions will be implemented in the four districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram where triple lockdown will be in force from midnight tomorrow. “A detailed order in this regard will be issued by the respective District Disaster Management Authorities. The current lockdown will continue in the other ten districts of the State”, the Chief Minister said while briefing the media.
Triple lockdown is the most rigorous way to control the spread of the disease. The boundaries of these districts will be closed. There will be only one entry and exit point to and from the places where the triple lockdown has been declared especially containment zones. Unnecessary outing from the house, crowding, not wearing a mask, or violating any other Covid protocols will be subject to severe legal action as per Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020.
“Areas, where the triple lockdown is being implemented, will be divided into zones and the task of control will be handed over to higher police officials. Drones will be used to detect crowds and geo-fencing technology will be used to track those in quarantine. Ward committees should take the necessary steps for home delivery of food from community kitchens and Janakeeya hotels. All other social activities should be avoided in these places. Ten thousand policemen will be deployed to strictly enforce the triple lockdown”, the CM said.
While medical shops and petrol pumps will be open throughout, bakery and provision stores would open on alternate days. Banks will operate on Tuesdays and Fridays while Cooperative banks will function on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm with minimum staff.
In the meantime, Kerala has reported 32,680 new cases of Covid-19 from 1,22,628 sample tests in the last 24 hours. The test positivity rate is 26.65%. Meanwhile, 93 deaths were confirmed as caused by Covid taking the related death toll in the state to 6,339. At present, there are 4,45,334 persons under treatment for the disease in the State even as 29,442 patients have recovered from the disease today. Malappuram district has the highest number of 4,782 new positive cases.
Registration opens for vaccination of 18-44 age group
The Chief Minister today informed that the registration for vaccination for people between the ages of 18 and 44 has started. “Priority will be given to those with other serious illnesses. Preference will be given to those in approximately 20 categories, including those with cardiovascular disease, severe hypertension, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, cancer, sickle cell anaemia, HIV infection, and those who have undergone organ transplantation, dialysis, and those with some form of disability. People in these categories should register as soon as possible and be prepared to receive the vaccine once it is approved.”
Most of the Covid patients are being treated in government hospitals. “In addition, the government has covered the treatment cost of 39,280 patients in private hospitals. They were either referred from government hospitals and control cells or are beneficiaries of the Karunya health security scheme (KASP). An amount of Rs.102 crores has been spent for this so far”, he added.
The CM also disclosed that the Centre has sanctioned one more oxygen train for Kerala. Meanwhile, the first oxygen express train will reach Vallarpadam on Sunday morning.