Time not yet ripe to ease lockdown: Kerala expert panel

An expert task force set up by Kerala government on evolving a strategy on easing coronavirus lockdown has said "time is t yet ripe" for its full withdrawal after April 14 and recommended a "phased approach" to removal of restrictions.

17-member committee in its report has suggested a withdrawal strategy that should be grual, phased and calibrated to ensure that case lo is always kept below (surge) capacity of healthcare system to deal with it.

It said restricting large scale movement of people across international and state boundaries was "critical" and should t be considered unless and until situation was under control in every state.

However, panel said it also felt that prolonged and stringent lockdown would le to ecomic hardship, famine and law and order problems, which could undermine both lockdown and health manment objectives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has anunced 21-day lockdown to check spre of coronavirus.

report, submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by committee on Monday, has been sent to Central government.

When asked about strategy government was likely to opt, Vijayan told reporters that only after kwing Centre's decision on lockdown, which ends on April 14, will state be able to decide on its future course of action.

report by task force heed by former chief secretary K M Abraham was for centre's perusal and t for state government, he said.

" task force report was for centre's perusal and t for state government. Prime Minister h sought report from task force and state government h sent it to Centre after we received it yesterday," he told reporters here.

Replying to a question, he said it was a nation-wide 21- day lockdown and state government was following Centre's directions.

" centre h declared a 21-day-long lockdown till April 14. Let Centre take a decision wher to continue or t... We will take a suitable decision accordingly," Vijayan ded.