Thiruvananthapuram, July 11: Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today asked the people to carry forward the ‘Break the Chain’ campaign more vigorously as the number of cases through contact is increasing in the State.
Addressing the people through social media platforms due to the triple lockdown in the capital city, the Chief Minister said, “We need to strengthen the ‘Break the Chain’ campaign in view of rising contact cases. Everyone should take care to strictly follow social distancing in public and to wash their hands frequently with soap. Similarly, the use of the mask is mandatory in public places. Masks help in reducing the spread of disease from one person to another. The risk of infection is high when a person with Covid infection comes closer to another person without a mask. However, if both parties are wearing masks, the risk of infection is low. The rate of spread of the disease is increasing and rigorously following this campaign is the only way to decrease it. Unfortunately, no symptoms are shown in most cases and these people would end up spreading the virus. We need to find as many infected people as soon as possible.”
Asymptomatic patients testing positive should not be considered as a drawback of the test, but instead should be seen as the ability of the test to detect even minor infections. It is a known fact that the disease can spread from people who do not have symptoms but can cause serious symptoms in those who get the disease. The most scientific suitable methods are being used for testing and the Chief Minister requested the cooperation of all in this regard.
He also mentioned about the mass protests that were organised by the opposition parties in several places across the state today also. These protests violating Covid protocol are punishable, the CM reminded.
*Two shift working system for policemen on Covid special duty*
A large number of police personnel from the local police and special units have been deployed for Covid preventive duty. The workload of the police has increased in some districts due to the rising number of cases increase in the number of patients and the uniqueness of the terrain. In this scenario, the police have been directed to deploy their force in at least two shifts a day. It has also been suggested that the police officers assigned from the Special Unit should be deployed in places near their residence.
The Chief Minister also announced that K Padmakumar, ADGP & State Welfare Officer of the police, has been directed to visit all the districts and submit daily reports on the welfare of the police to the state police chief. The police would be provided with adequate health and safety equipment. Steps will be taken to provide drinking water and food for those on duty for long hours. The CM informed that senior police officers have been directed to visit the areas where policemen are deployed and to look after their welfare.