Highlights
- Shopping malls, salons can reopen with 50% capacity in Kerala
- Schools, training centres will remain closed
- Travel between districts allowed between 7 am and 7 pm
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday announced the opening of shopping complexes with 50 per cent shops on a rotational basis and barbershops and beauty parlours without air conditioning in the state.
"Malls will not be opened. Shopping complexes can open with 50 per cent of shops on a rotational basis. Barbershops and beauty parlours to open without air conditioning. Only hair cutting and shaving services will be allowed. Customers should bring their own towels," said Chief Minister Vijayan at a press conference.
The announcement comes after the centre extended the lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus till May 31, but with a new set of relaxations.
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be allowed to run within a district with 50 per cent seating capacity; inter-district travel, however, will not permitted. People, however, will be allowed to travel between districts between 7am-7pm. They will only be required to produce an identification card, he said.
"Those who have to travel regularly for work to other districts need to take permisison from collector or police. Those residing in containment zones will be under higher scrutiny," he added.
All educational institutions, including training centers, will continue to remain shut during the period. "Online courses will be encouraged for students," he said.
Restaurants will be allowed take away service till 9pm.
Beverage outlets (liquor shops), the chief minister said, can function for parcel service as and when online registration is enabled, he said. "The state-run liquor shops BEVCO will open after the online system gets ready. Bars can sell liquor only as a takeaway from the counters. Clubs can sell food and liquor as a parcel for members. The restaurant can give parcel food delivery till 9 pm and online parcel till 10 pm," he said.
Only 50 per cent of government officials will be allowed to visit their offices, he said, adding the rest of the staff will work from home. "Saturday will be holiday for government officials," he said.
Mr Vijayan also announced that 29 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Kerala out of which 21 were foreign returnees and seven others came from other States. "Total number of cases in the state is now 630, including 130 active cases," he said.
With inputs from ANI