Amid surge of COVID 19 cases, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a lockdown from 8 May to 16 May. "This is in the background of a strong second wave of COVID-19," Pinarayi Vijayan said in a tweet. On Thursday, The government also issued a fresh set of guidelines ahead of the 8-day complete statewide lockdown. Shops including ration shops (under PDS) dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, animal fodder, poultry and cattle feed, bakeries shall remain open the guidelines said. Although, the shops would have to close down by 7:30 pm. District authorities are also encouraged to facilitate home delivery to contain the spread of infection, the guidelines noted.