Kerala Lockdown Restriction, CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced new guidelines

The Kerala government on Saturday issued fresh set of coronavirus guidelines, restricting movement of those who have not taken at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. The state government has allowed in-house dining for hotels, restaurants and bars, saying they will be reopened with 50% seating capacity and the staff should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Speaking to reporters after a high-level Covid-19 evaluation meeting, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that indoor stadium and swimming pools can function with fully vaccinated staff. Vijayan said the government has decided to ease restrictions as more than 90% of the targeted population have been administered with the first dose of the vaccine.

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“There is an eight per cent reduction in active cases when compared to last week. A total of 3,50,12,467 people have been administered the vaccine till now. Out of this, 2,44,71,319 have been given the first dose while 1,05,41,148 both the doses,” Vijayan said. He said there were only 22 lakh people who were yet to receive the first dose.

“In the current scenario, there is no need to continue the restrictions imposed on dining facilities in restaurants,” Vijayan said. He said those who have taken both the doses can avail themselves of the in-house dine-in facility at restaurants and bars. “Only 50 per cent of the seating capacity of restaurants and bars should be used.

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All staff should be fully vaccinated and AC must not be used and doors and windows should be kept open,” Vijayan said. The state government has issued an order in this regard which says the restrictions on entry into the establishments shall not be made applicable to those below 18 years of age as they are not eligible for vaccination at present.

Earlier on Friday, the Kerala government had issued draft guidelines for the reopening of schools in the state, which includes allowing only two students to sit in a bench and scrapping of mid-day meals for children. General Education Minister V Sivankutty had said the draft guidelines will be finalised within five days after holding discussions with health and other concerned departments.

“The draft guidelines include allowing only two students on a bench and scrapping of mid-day meals. Instead mid-day meals allowance will be given to the students. The body temperature of the students will be regularly measured. Gatherings will not be allowed,” the minister said.

He also said that online classes would continue along with offline classes. Sivankutty said differently abled students need not attend the schools in the initial phase and online awareness classes will be held for the parents of the children.

The minister added that hand washing facilities, sanitisers and masks would be arranged in the schools and the classes sanitised every day.