Kerala unlocks: Public transport & offices resume operations

Kerala unlocks

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has started easing the Covid-necessitated lockdown restrictions in a cautious and graded manner from Thursday.

The State has set the unlock guidelines after classifying local bodies into four based on the test positivity rates. Separate lockdown norms have been imposed on the local bodies based on the classification, and the curbs would be reviewed weekly on Wednesdays.

The unlocking process commenced from Wednesday midnight. The two-day weekend total lockdown, however, would continue in the State, where civic life had been under strict curbs for almost one-and-a-half months since May 8.

Local bodies with a TPR (Test Positivity Rate) of 30 per cent and above have been placed under triple lockdown and their number has shrunk to 12.

Six local bodies in Thiruvananthapuram, three in Palakkad, and one each in Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kasaragod, were currently under triple lockdown. Areas under triple lockdown would have only one entrance and exit.

The restrictions have been eased based on the following guidelines. However, if respective district collectors have ordered specific curbs, they would be in force.

TPR-based classification

All local bodies are designated as clusters based on the average TPR of the past seven days.

Since local bodies have been taken as the basic unit of COVID-19 controls, there will be different levels of restrictions - from near normalcy to triple lockdown - in these local governance units based on the test positivity rates (TPR) prevailing in these areas.

The four categories are:

• Category A – Average TPR below 8% – Areas with low spread

• Category B – TPR between 8 and 20% – Moderate spread

• Category C – TPR between 20 and 30% – High spread

• Category D – TPR above 30% – Critical spread

What's allowed across the state:

• Industrial, agriculture and construction activities will be allowed everywhere. There will not be any restriction for labourers engaged in these works to travel. Shops selling raw materials, including packaging materials, for these activities are permitted to function from 7am to 7pm.

• All shops selling essential commodities - food items, grocery, milk, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, birds & animal feeds, bakeries and ration shops under PDS - can function from 7am to 7pm with 50% employees.

• Akshaya Centres can function from Monday to Friday.

• Central and state government offices, public sector undertakings, government companies, commissions, corporations and local self government institutions can function everyday with 25 per cent of the staff strength on a rotation basis. Remaining staff will be on 'work from home' duty.

• Secretariat and Accountant General Office will function with upto 50% staff on rotation basis.

• Public transport, both KSRTC and private buses, will be allowed with COVID protocols on need basis. However, stops will not be allowed in areas where total lockdown or triple lockdown is imposed.

• Banks and financial institutions are allowed to function only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

• All all-India and state-level examinations, including sports selections, are allowed.

• Restaurants can continue with takeaway services from 7am to 7pm. Home-delivery is permitted till 9.30pm. Dine-in is not allowed.

• Outdoor sports that does not require contact are allowed. Morning and evening walk observing social distancing norms also permitted.

• Bevco outlets, bars and toddy shops can function from 9 am to 7 pm for takeaways only.

• Dispensaries, medical stores, medical equipment stores, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, ambulances, other hospitals and related medical establishments, their production and distribution units, and palliative care services.

• Petrol pumps, LPG/LNG/gas retail sale and storage, cold storages and warehouses, private security services, cable/DTH services, telecommunications (including telecom towers), Internet, broadcasting and cable services, IT and ITeS, print/electronic/social media houses, co-operative credit societies, e-commerce and its vehicles, urgent repair of vehicles and related services, toll booths, fishing, including inland and aqua culture.

• Sale and distribution of hygiene materials, including personal hygiene products.

• Home services of electrical, plumbing, lift, AC mechanics.

• Services of attendants of aged and bedridden persons.

• Works under MNREGA following COVID protocol.

• Offices of advocates and their clerks during days of physical sitting in courts, except in triple lockdown areas.

• RD collection agents of National Savings Scheme.

• Theatres of KSFDC can be used for censorship related activities of movies.

• Domestic helps are permitted to travel, except from/to complete lockdown and triple lockdown areas.

What's not allowed

• Only a maximum of 20 people are allowed to attend marriages and funerals. No other gatherings or public functions are allowed.

• Tourism, entertainment events and indoor activities causing crowds are not allowed.

• Malls are not allowed to open.

Special guidelines for different categories

Category A

• The local bodies under 'Category A' will have normal curbs under the new guidelines issued by the state government on Tuesday. Private companies are allowed to operate with 50 per cent employees.

Category B

• Shops selling non-essential commodities can function on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7am to 7pm with with 50% employees.

• Private establishments can work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with upto 50 % staff.

Category C

• Only shops selling essential commodities are allowed to open from 7am to 7pm.

• Shops catering to marriages, like textiles, jewellery and footwear, students (books) and repair

services can function only on Fridays from 7am to 7pm with upto 50% employees.

• Hotels and restaurants are permitted to function for takeaway, online/home delivery from 7am to 7pm.

Category D

• Intensified restrictions imposed across the state on Saturday and Sunday will be imposed in such local bodies throughout the week.

• No one will be allowed to travel except for essential purposes and vaccination.

• Only shops selling essential commodities are allowed to open from 7am to 7pm.

KSRTC to resume ordinary schedules

The Kerala State Transport Corporation will resume its ordinary service from Thursday, besides increasing the long-distance schedules.

The buses will not stop at areas under lockdown or triple lockdown. More schedules will be operated on Mondays and Fridays, which normally see an increase in passengers.

The Corporation will operate only essential schedules on Saturdays and Sundays, when the State will be under complete lockdown. Long-distance schedules, however, will resume service by Sunday afternoon.

Boats from 7am to 7pm

The State Water Transport Department will operate 50% of its schedules from each station between 7am and 7pm, Transport Minister Antony Raju said.

Bars, Bevco outlets to open

The sale of liquor will resume in areas with a TPR of less than 20%. Alcohol could be purchased directly from bars and government-run outlets.

Only parcel service, however, will be available. Bars have been asked to sell alcoholic beverages for the price of Bevco between 11am and 7pm. Bevco outlets will function between 9am and 7pm. Toddy shops, too, will offer parcel service.

Clubs will not resume functioning now. Bevco outlets and bars will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but toddy shops will function.

Though the government had considered selling liquor through the BevQ app, it was dropped considering practical difficulties and controversies that it had created earlier.

Affidavit must for travel

Police-issued pass is not required for travelling in areas with less than 20% of TPR. State police chief Loknath Behera said an affidavit is needed for travelling in such areas.

Access to and from areas (TRP above 30%) under triple lockdown will be allowed only in emergency situations, such as medical needs, weddings and funerals, exams, construction and industrial purposes. Police pass and other relevant documents are necessary to travel in such areas.

Those travelling from moderate spread zones (TPR between 20% and 30%) to lesser TPR areas should also apply for the pass.

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