With the state capital registering rapid rise in cases, the Kerala government on Sunday decided to impose triple lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram corporation limits starting Monday.
The lockdown would be implemented from 6am on July 6 and would last for a week. This will bring in more intense of restrictions that had been implemented in Kasargode before when the number of infections was on the rise.
The idea is to restrict the movement of people and break the chain of transmission. All entry in the city area will be closed with only one entry and exit point remaining open.
Only hospitals, medical shops and grocery shops will open in the 100 wards of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. All government offices, including the state secretariat, will also stay shut for a week.
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the triple lockdown will be implemented in the city corporation limit for one week starting from Monday.
“People should not venture out. We need strict restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. During triple lockdown, there will be more restrictions. Only necessary services will be allowed," he said.
The announcement came hours after the minister said the district was 'sitting on an active volcano' with rising number of COVID-19 cases and there was no guarantee that there would be no community spread.
Surendran, who is also in-charge of the district, said the courts here would remain closed. "There will be no public transportation. Only the medical, other essential shops and hospitals will function. People can go to medical shops with a proper prescription," he said.
The minister's office warned of action against those who venture out unnecessarily. The Kerala University has declared the cancellation of all exams in view of the lockdown.
Earlier in the day, the minister told reporters that the state government has decided to conduct more antigen tests in the district to check the spread of the virus.
He said the restrictions in force in containment zones would be tightened and food delivery boys would be tested.
Meanwhile, state police chief Loknath Behera told media that all the roads leading to the city would be closed and only essential services will be allowed to ply.
"No vehicle movement will be allowed inside the city. In the corporation limit, only medical shops and essential shops like provisional stores will be allowed. Rest of the establishments will be closed," Behera was quoted as saying in a release.
Kerala on Sunday reported second highest single day rise of 225 COVID-19 cases, including seven jawans of an Army unit in the state, taking the total to 5,429.
Of the 27 cases reported from the capital city, 22 were through contacts. The total number of active cases in the district is 130. There are also a number of cases where the source of infection could not be identified.
(With inputs from PTI)
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