Nine day long lock-down in Kerala wef Saturday as Covid-19 transmission goes out of control

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (May 06: HS): Having failed in curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the State, the Government of Kerala declared a total lock-out for nine days with effect from May 8 (Saturday). This is announced by the Chief Minister’s Office by a press release issued on Thursday morning.

Total lock-down means all shops, business establishments and industrial units remain shut down for the next nine days. The lock-down is likely to be lifted fully after May 18 because Vijayan’s second inauguration is likely to take place any day after May 18.

As on Wednesday evening, the State had more than 3.75 lakh covid-19 patients, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The 12 hours ending Wednesday evening saw 41,953 persons getting diagnosed with the pandemic. This is the highest ever number of persons afflicted with pandemic getting tested on a single day. The State’s Test Positivity Ratio reached 25.69 per cent,” said  the chief minister.

Though the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, the organization of all Government doctors in the State, has been pleading with the State Administration to declare a total lock down in view of the ever growing number of Covid patients, the chief minister had scoffed at the suggestion. Vijayan has been belittling and ridiculing the doctors by telling that they do not have any right to demand a lock down. The Indian Medical Association too had asked the Kerala Government to opt for a total lock down which too was turned by the Chief Minister.

The KGMOA in its earlier statement had pointed out that the health care sector of Kerala was in ruins and the hospitals were not equipped to treat Covid-19 patients. “The State is facing severe shortage of more than 1,000 doctors alone. There are no medical professionals in the State to look after the patients,” said the KGMOA letter addressed to the Chief Secretary.

Vijayan, who had claimed that the State had stocked sufficient oxygen cylinders in his Tuesday’s press meet made a volte-face within 24 hours and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being indifferent to the needs of the State. “We want at least 500 tonnes of oxygen in the next 24 hours. The Centre is also not providing the State with sufficient vaccine,” blamed Vijayan.