Thiruvananthapuram: Imposition of complete lockdown on districts with increasing new COVID-19 cases has to be considered, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, adding that those districts could not be named at this juncture.
The chief minister hinted at the possible selective lockdown even as the number of daily SARS-CoV-2 positive cases remained way high over the 30,000 mark, adding 37,199 new cases on Friday with a test positivity rate of 28.88 per cent.
Vijayan advised local self-government bodies against clamping lockdown since it would be illegal. Prohibitory orders were being promulgated in areas where COVID-19 cases have been on an upswing. Government departments concerned could impose more restrictions if necessary, he added.
The chief minister announced that police would assign a Janamaithri volunteer each in all panchayat wards. The volunteers would mainly be responsible for reporting breach of quarantine norms, besides spreading awareness about the pandemic among patients and primary contacts.
Vijayan advised those without home quarantine facilities were advised to contact the nearest police station or dial 112 to reach the police control room.
Police Station House Officers have been asked to ensure only essential services were functional in containment zones. Imposing curbs after dividing micro-containment zones into clusters returned desired results in Kottayam district.
The chief minister urged people to remain indoors on Saturday and Sunday, when the State would be under a mini-lockdown as in the previous weekend. Venturing out unnecessarily and crowding in closed places would not be allowed.
Emergency and necessary election work, pertaining to making arrangements for counting of votes, has been exempted from restrictions. Bystanders of hospitalized patients should keep a letter from the doctor of hospital authorities, or a self-declaration, which has to be produced when demanded. Government offices would not function on Saturday.
Restrictions from May 4
The weekend mini-lockdown precedes stricter statewide curbs on civic activities, which would be in force for a week from Tuesday. Lockdown-like restrictions have been declared for the May 4-9 period.
Those violating the restrictions would face penal action. They would be charged under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
An order issued by the State Chief Secretary said that crowding would not be allowed, and a total of only 50 people would be allowed to attend wedding and house-warming ceremonies. Funerals have to be conducted with a maximum number of 20 people in attendance.
Know the curbs
Shops: Medical shops, groceries, stalls selling fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat, and dairy products can function. Workshops, centres servicing vehicles and selling spares can also remain open till 9pm, but the owners and employees should wear double face masks and gloves. Ration shops and civil supplies outlets will also function.
Hotels & restaurants: Indoor dining prohibited. Parcel and home delivery services can be offered till 9pm. Toddy shops, too, can function.
Places of worship: As many as 50 people can be allowed if places of worship have enough space, or else, the number of devotees should be cut short. They should maintain social distancing of two metres from each other.
Essential services: Telecom, petroleum, LPG sectors and their employees and vehicles are exempted from the restrictions. The employees should carry identity cards. IT firms can function with a bare minimum number of employees.
Medical treatment: Bystanders of patients and those travelling in emergency situations, those visiting COVID-19 vaccination centres should carry their identity cards. Vehicles shipping medical oxygen can ply without restrictions.
Guest workers: They can work adhering to COVID-19 protocol. There are no restrictions on home nurses attending to the elderly, and domestic helps.
Farming and industry: Those in agriculture, plantation, animal husbandry sectors and small- and medium-scale industries can function. Construction sector can also function without restrictions.
No pillion riders
Thiruvananthapuram: Pillion riders should ideally be avoided on two-wheelers, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Family members, however, are exempted, but both the riders should wear double face masks, one over the other.
Market committees have been asked to ensure shops in markets stick to the stipulated working hours. Police should coordinate with such committees.
