The Kerala government on Saturday extended the coronavirus lockdown till June 9 to contain the fast-spreading viral infection in the state. The current lockdown was expected to end on May 30.
Meanwhile, the triple lockdown in Malappuram district has been withdrawn, informed Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The triple lockdown was imposed in four Kerala districts, reporting the highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, earlier this month. Last week, it was withdrawn in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thrissur.
"When we imposed the lockdown earlier this month, our objective was to bring down the active cases to less than 2.50 lakhs and that we achieved yesterday. We will have to continue with caution as things have to be further brought under control and hence we decided to extend the lockdown till June 9," said Vijayan.
He, however, said that more easing of lockdown norms will be there which include banks working for the entire day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while jewellery, textiles and book shops can open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
"If we have to declare a complete unlock, then the TPR has to further come down and the three-day moving average has to be less than 15 percent. Moreover, the occupancy of ICU beds government has to come down below 60 percent, while on Saturday it's above 70 percent. If we declare unlock before that, it will be troublesome, so let us all wait for things to get below the acceptable levels," added Vijayan.
The lockdown was first imposed in Kerala from May 8-May 16 which was later extended till the end of this month.
With regards to vaccinations, Vijayan said that stocks are arriving and very soon we will be able to increase the number of people who will be given their dose, every day.
"Vaccines companies have expressed their interests to set up manufacturing units at our Life Sciences Park complex. This was conveyed by them at a webinar. It has also been decided to reduce the gap between the first dose and second dose for all those who are proceeding abroad for work or as students. A certificate will be given mentioning the passport number to the concerned person," added Vijayan.
Kerala reported 23,513 new COVID-19 cases, 28,100 recoveries, and 198 deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases stand at 2,33,034, and death toll at 8,456. A total of 1,41,759 samples have been tested in the last 24 hours.
