Paying cost of Bakrid relaxation? Kerala imposes complete weekend lockdown

Thiruvananthapuram, July 29: After Kerala government's Bakrid relaxation turned out to be Covid-19 super-spreader events, now the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala govt has announced a complete weekend lockdown in the state.

The weekend lockdown order was announced a day after Kerala registered 22,056 fresh COVID-19 cases and 131 deaths. The weekend lockdown order was announced a day after Kerala registered 22,056 fresh COVID-19 cases and 131 deaths. It should be noted that Kerala accounts for 50% of all new Covid cases in India

Some of the worst affected districts in the state are Malappuram (3931), Thrissur (3005), Kozhikode (2400), Ernakulam (2397), Palakkad (1649), Kollam (1462), Alappuzha (1461), Kannur (1179), Thiruvananthapuram (1101) and Kottayam (1067).

It should be noted that, despite failing to tackle the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kerala government had relaxed the lockdown on the Eid ul-Adha festival, risking the lives of citizens in the state.

Also Read | Inviting third wave? Amid the health crisis in the state, Kerala relaxes lockdown restrictions due to Eid-ul-Azham

The state government has also asked district collectors to identify and demarcate micro-containment zones in all districts, regardless of the categorisation of the LSGI regions. In such areas, intensified restrictions have been ordered to bring down rising Covid-19 infections.

After looking at the situation in the state, the government is sending a six-member team to Kerala headed by the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control to help the govt to contain the virus in the state. “Govt is sending a 6-member team to Kerala headed by Director, National Centre for Disease Control. As a large number of COVID cases are still being reported in Kerala, the team will aid the state’s ongoing efforts in COVID management,” said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had also written to the Principal Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Kerala, in view of the pandemic situation in the state. Bhushan, in the letter, had asserted that Kerala needs to “do more” in terms of containment.