The pandemic Covid-19 spreads all over the country rapidly and the state health department declared 88 locations as Covid Hotspots on March 25th 2020.
State government alerted all in the very beginning itself. Isolation wards with 40 beds set up in 21 major hospitals in the state. Helplines were launched in all districts under the guidance of district collectors and District Medical Officers. Nearly 4000 persons were in quarantine either in hospitals or at home at the beginning of month itself.
On March 4th, 215 health workers and tele counselling services were provided to the suspected.
On 10th March, government cautioned all women who participated in Attukal Pongala in Trivandrum to take precautions against the transmission of the dreaded disease. Mobile Application called GoK Direct was launched for messages and information.
New initiative “Break the Chain” campaign started to educate the people about the importance of hygiene and installed water taps with soap/hand wash at public spaces.
On 22 March, Chief Minister and Health Minister of the state strictly warned the people to follow all guidelines issued by the government in combating the virus.
On 23 March, 2020 Chief Minister announced a state wide lockdown till 31st March to prevent spread of virus. The lockdown was extended till 3rd May, 2020 as per the Central Government decision. All directions given by the Centre were strictly followed in the state.
All public transports were stopped and shops supplying essential food items allowed to open from 7 am to 5 pm in the state. In Kasargod district, shops were allowed to open from 11 am to 5 pm. trict Orders imposed to stop any unnecessary travel within and outside the district.
28 days home quarantine was strictly implemented for those returning from the corona virus affected countries.
District having high cases of Covid-19 cases were identified as hotspots .
The hotspot areas include corporations, municipalities and panchayats taking into account the positive corona cases and the primary and secondary contacts of those tested positive.
The list will be prepared everyday however places will be removed from the hotspot after analysing the cases weekly.
The movement of the people in the hotspot will be restricted completely to contain the virus.
All the districts in the state were declared as red, yellow and green zones considering the Covid-19 cases in the district.
In Kerala the northern districts were declared as red zones considering the spread of corona virus.
The districts Idukki and Kottayam were declared as Green Zones . The remaining southern districts and Wynad were considered as Yellow Zones.
But the spontaneous surge of covid cases in Idukki and Kottayam prompted to declare the districts as red zones. The Vandanmedu and Irattayar panchayaths in Idukki and Aymanam,Velloor, Ayarkunnam and Thalayolaparambu panchayaths in Kottayam are spotted as Covid-19 hotspots.
Kerala government has released the revised list of hotspots considering the new Covid-cases in the State.
Panoor, Muzhappilangadu, Chapparapadavu, Mokeri of Kannur district, Kuzhalmannam, Vilavoor, Puthussery, Puthupariyaram of Palakkad district and Kulathupuzha of Kollam district are the new hotspots. Chokli, Kadirur of Kannur district, Badiayadka of Kasargod, Nadapuram of Kozhikode district; Varkala and Malayankeezhu of Thiruvananthapuram are the hotspots removed from the list of hotspots .
Considering the high risk of spreading the virus, the state government has warned the public to strictly adhere the lockdown norms.
Stern action including arrest against those coming out from the houses unnecessarily will be taken. In red zone areas it is complete lockdown and three Superintendents of Police have given responsibility to implement restrictions.
All should adhere lockdown protocols strictly such as distance keeping and wearing masks so as to stop the spreading the virus and should not come out into streets or roads unnecessarily.
In the red zone hotspots area, stringent steps have taken to keep the people inside their homes. The roads in these areas were completely closed keeping only one entry and exit point.
Essential food items and medicines are provided in their houses by the authorities. Ambulance services and all medical facilities were kept ready on any time on call.
Earlier state government had decided to allow dine -in facilities in the restaurants. Private vehicles were allowed to ply on odd-even registration number basis, two wheelers among others were allowed in green and Orange B zones. But objections were raised by the Central Government and directed the State to follow all the guidelines issued by Centre .
At present the four districts – Trivandrum, Alappuzha , Trissur and Wayanad districts have no corona virus cases in the State.
2 MAY 2020
LOCKDOWN EXTENDED
The Central Government extended the countrywide lockdown till May 17, considering the spread of pandemic. New guidelines were issued allowing considerable relaxations in different zones in opening economic activities in the country.
The first lockdown was imposed on March 24 for 21 days and the second phase started from April 15th, 2020 to May 3.
In the coming phase, in green zones buses can operate with up to 50 per cent seating capacity. In Orange zones taxis and cab aggregators can ply with only one passenger and inter district movement will be allowed.
In red zones, other than the containment zones private cars and two wheelers will be allowed with restrictions. All public transports of air, rail, metro and inter-state movement will remain suspended.
All religious and social functions banned. Funerals and marriages can be conducted with maximum of 20 persons. Malls, cinema halls, bars, saloons and educational institutions will remain closed.
However the state government can impose more restrictions accordingly.
