Kerala Lockdown Extended By 10 Days, Some Restrictions Eased

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today extended the statewide Covid lockdown by 10 more days till June 9. The government had a few days ago extended the curbs till the end of this month.

This time, however, some restrictions have been eased. For instance, shops can open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday till 5 pm. Industries can open with a minimum number of workers.

The state recorded 23,513 new COVID-19 cases today from 1,41,759 samples tested. Its positivity rate stood at 16.5 per cent, with 198 deaths. Up to 28,100 recoveries, too, were registered in the past 24 hours, according to data given out by Mr Vijayan. Deviating from the first wave trend, Kerala's death count has steadily risen this time.

Lockdown extended for all of Kerala till 9 June, with certain relaxations.

All industries can function with minimal staff, not to exceed 50% strength.

Banks will continue on Mon, Wed, Fri. Time extended till 5pm.

Triple lockdown in Malappuram will stand repealed from 30 May.

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) May 29, 2021

The additional restrictions -- or "triple lockdown" -- that had been imposed on Malappuram have been withdrawn. It was one of the four districts initially put under a triple lockdown due to their high positivity rates and caseloads. On May 21, the government lifted the additional restrictions from Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Thrissur, leaving Malappuram to continue with the extra curbs.

To mitigate the impact of the lockdown on people's routine lives, the state government has been distributing free grocery kits to some 90 lakh families in the state, besides free ration, including to those with no ration cards. Free food kit and food grains were issued to members of orphanages and welfare institutions too, according to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's to the newly constituted legislative assembly yesterday.