Kerala Lockdown News: ‘Total Shutdown’ in State Likely? Pinarayi Vijayan Govt Mulling Over The Decision Amid Spike in COVID Cases

Kerala Lockdown news: On Wednesday, Kerala reported 1,038 new COVID-19 cases, out of which 226 cases were from Thiruvananthapuram alone. The total number of active cases now stands at 8,818. Out of the 226 new cases in Thiruvananthapuram, 190 people contracted the virus through local transmission. 

Kerala Lockdown news: As Coronavirus cases continue to spike in Kerala, reports have it that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan may consider reimposing a total lockdown in the state to curb the spread of the deadly virus. “We had previously implemented a complete lockdown in the state. We are aware of such viewpoints (complete lockdown). Although it has not been decided yet, I think we will have to consider it,” various reports quoted CM Vijayan as saying at a press briefing yesterday.

On Wednesday, Kerala reported 1,038 new COVID-19 cases, out of which 226 cases were from Thiruvananthapuram alone. The total number of active cases now stands at 8,818. Out of the 226 new cases in Thiruvananthapuram, 190 people contracted the virus through local transmission.

Pinarayi Vijayan had also clarified that the state’s discharge policy regarding COVID-19 patients is different from the existing policies at the national level and in other states.

During a press conference, the Chief Minister had said, “As per the national policy, a patient is discharged after 10 days of admission if there are no minor symptoms. Most states follow this method. Initially in Kerala, a patient was discharged only after two consecutive negative test results.” He added that tests have been made mandatory in asymptomatic cases as well in the updated guidelines by the Department of Health, which were published a day before yesterday.

“Kerala has always followed a policy of discharging patients only after they test negative. The policy is to ensure the safety of the community and to prevent the further spread of the disease. In the third phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state, the numbers have been increasing rapidly and today it has cross 1,000,” the Chief Minister asserted.