After imposing a lockdown for 40 days to bring down the Covid surge, the Kerala state government in India has decided to ease the restrictions from Thursday at the local body level, based on the intensity of virus spread. However, the total lockdown across the state on weekends will continue.
Announcing the relaxations after assessing the state’s Covid situation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said shops selling essential goods will remain open across the state from 7am to 7pm from Monday to Friday. Industrial and agricultural activities will be permitted in all local bodies and transportation facility will be allowed for workers in these sectors. Local bodies with an average TPR of less than 8% will have limited restrictions whereas there will be partial lockdown in places with 8-20% TPR, full lockdown for 20-30% TPR and triple lockdown in areas with TPR above 30%. Central and state government offices, PSUs, commissions, corporations and autonomous institutions can function on all working days with 25% staff on rotation basis. Public transport will be allowed in a limited manner from Thursday. Banks will continue to function across the state on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. While gatherings and public functions will not be allowed, a maximum of 20 people can continue to attend weddings and funerals as earlier.
On every Wednesday, the seven-day average Covid spread will be assessed at the local- body level and the district administrations concerned will publish the categories in which the civic bodies fall. The health department will issue Covid test target to each local body.
