Kerala Covid-19 Tracker: Seven new cases & 27 recoveries today, total 147 patients under treatment

 Thiruvananthapuram, April 16: Seven new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Kerala today - four persons from Kannur district, two in Kozhikode district and one in Kasargod district. Among the new cases, five are people who have returned from abroad and two are cases of local transmission.

 Meanwhile, the test results of 27 patients under treatment in hospitals came as negative - 24 patients from Kasargod district, and one each in Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kannur districts.

Kerala has so far reported a total of 394 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus infection and 147 patients are still under treatment in different hospitals across the State.

Keeping the recent trend, the number of people under surveillance in the State has come down to 88,855. Of these, 88,332 are observation in their homes and 523 are isolated at hospitals. 108 persons were admitted to hospitals. 17,400 samples from people with symptoms have been sent so far for testing and 16,489 samples have tested negative with no infection.

Briefing the media, Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan said, “The number of recoveries is now more than the number of new cases being reported and this is a vindication of the preventive measures undertaken by us. It gives me immense pleasure in announcing that seven foreign nationals who had recovered from Covid-19 in Kerala have reached back their respective countries. This is a testimony to our progress in treating the Coronavirus. Two staffers of the Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery, who got infected while on airport duty, were among those who recovered from the infection today.

The Chief Minister also said the patients who are being discharged from hospitals after recovering from Covid-19 should undergo a 14-days mandatory isolation at their homes, along with their family members. LSG bodies should monitor these families.

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Kerala plans phased relaxation of lockdown in consonance with Central guidelines

 Thiruvananthapuram, April 16: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today presented a plan for a phased relaxation of lockdown in the State, in consonance with the Central guidelines. “The State Government will abide by the general guidelines announced by the Central Government while extending the lockdown till May 03. We would request approval from Centre for grouping of districts based on the number of active/positive cases and allowing certain exemptions in these places. However, all common restrictions applicable to pan India will continue in Kerala”, he said.
The Chief Minister also announced that the State would need Central approval to exempt certain districts from the hotspot list declared by the Centre. All the districts in the State have been grouped into four zones based on the number of active/positive cases being reported.

Zone I with higher restriction: Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram Districts

The State Government is of the opinion that these four districts with the maximum number of positive cases - Kasargod (61), Kannur (45), Kozhikode (9) and Malappuram (9) be classified as one zone. Full lockdown will continue in these places till May 03. Hotspots within these districts would be identified and these villages/areas with maximum cases would be quarantined with maximum restrictions in place.

Zone II with partial exemptions: Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Kollam Districts

 As the number of positive cases is less in these districts, some exemptions to be allowed after April 24. However, full restrictions/lockdown would be in place till April 24. Hotspot areas within these districts would be identified and quarantined

 Zone III with partial relaxations: Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad Districts

 With minimum cases now, a partial relaxation of the lockdown restrictions will be allowed in these districts after April 20 along with total sealing of hotspot areas. Shops and restaurants (only parcel) would be allowed to be open till 7 pm.

 Zone IV with minimum restrictions: Kottayam and Idukki Districts

 With no positive cases now, these two districts would have minimum restrictions and local travel is planned to be allowed. Use of masks will be compulsory along with the use of sanitisers and hand washing.

 “However, general restrictions like inter-state and inter-district travel will not be allowed during this lockdown period and would be applicable across the State. Restrictions on public transport and closure of education and training institutes, religious places, cinema theatres and places of public gathering would continue to be in place. I hope these exemptions would help the people to continue their normal life”, the Chief Minister added.
 
The Chief Minister also announced plans for phased opening up of the construction sector, traditional sectors like coir, cashew, beedi and handicrafts; agriculture sector, food processing units, plantation sector, and Cooperative institutions, among others.

 Minister of Health & Social Justice, Smt K K Shailaja Teacher; Revenue Minister, Shri E Chandrasekharan, and Chief Secretary, Shri Tom Jose IAS were also present during the media briefing.