Kerala revises guidelines on relaxation of Coronavirus lockdown after MHA's letter

After Centre wrote to Kerala government asking state to t dilute lockdown, a revised government order issued on Monday morning has withdrawn some of relaxation measures earlier anunced for districts where Corona positive cases are t active. 

government of Kerala has w withdrawn permission for restaurants to be opened from 7 am to 7 pm even for dine-in and is allowing only takeaway services. Permission for barbershops to be opened and vehicles to ply as per odd-even scheme too have been withdrawn.

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This after Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) h written to Chief Secretary of Kerala stating, ‘In said Order, GoK has allowed opening of activities which are prohibited in Order dated 15.04.2020 of MHA. Such ditional activities allowed by GoK, inter alia, includes opening of local workshops; barbershops; restaurants; book stores; MSMEs in municipal limits; bus travel in cities/ towns for a shorter distance, two passengers in back seat of four-wheeler; pillion riding on scooters. This amounts to dilution of guidelines issued by MHA and violation of MHA Order dated 15th April 2020 issued under Disaster Manment Act 2005’. 

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In reaction to letter, representatives of Kerala government h defended ir move saying decision was taken only after consultation with Centre. Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose told media, ‘All decisions were taken after informing Centre. We spoke with union home secretary night before and spoke in detail about relaxations’. 

Senior minister Kakampally Surendran too defended left government and said, "We have given relaxations abiding by directions issued by Centre. Centre may have asked for an explanation, due to some misunderstanding. Once we give an explanation, I hope issue will be solved. We followed all rms set by Central government’. 

With positive cases down to single digits for over a week, Kerala h anunced a partial lifting of lockdown from April 21st, to open govt offices, restaurants, textile shops in districts with corona cases like Idukki and Kottayam. In Munnar, local plantation and quarry workers were allowed to resume work with restrictions. Travel to or districts continued to be banned.

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