The state health department has announced that there is a revision in the guidelines for Covid-19 quarantine and isolation in Kerala. The decision comes at a time when Kerala is witnessing a sharp rise in cases.
According to guidelines, a person testing positive for Covid-19 through lab tests should be treated as per the doctor’s decision. The health department has said that patients should avoid unnecessary trips and social gatherings for up to 7 days after discharge.
Those more likely to test positive from primary contact must quarantine for 14 days at home or in the institution. Those seeing any symptoms must contact the health workers or Covid helpline (DISHA) 1056. The patient must undergo an RT-PCR test on the eighth day if there are no symptoms. Even if the test results return negative, the patient must continue quarantining for another 7 days just to be safe.
Those in the low-risk category should avoid unnecessary trips for 14 days. They must ensure wearing mask, sanitize hands and maintain hygiene standards while coughing and sneezing etc.
Those coming under this category must also avoid weddings, other ceremonies, work, visits etc. The patient must contact health workers or DISHA 1056 if they have any symptoms.
Those who are asymptomatic must follow the Covid-19 protocol. If those coming under this category see any symptoms must contact the health workers or DISHA 1056.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government is imposing stern restrictions, especially for weekends to ensure further containment of the coronavirus. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister to ensure further containment of the virus.
At the meeting, it was decided that only essential services will be allowed during the weekend. Since the government offices are closed on weekends, private companies have been told to ensure that work from home (WFH) is implemented on weekends. Only 50% of staff is allowed at government offices. Also, educational institutions have been urged to conduct online classes.
Several incidents of public rushing to vaccination centres have been reported across the state. People were seen rushing to vaccination centres in Kottayam and Palakkad. People were not following social distancing norms and there were alleged reports of confronts taking place at mega vaccination camps. Bearing in mind, the Kerala government said that authorities must ensure that people do not rush to the vaccination camps.
Meanwhile, the Ernakulam district administration has announced that strict restrictions in all containment zones will be in effect for one week starting from 6 pm today. The decision came after Ernakulam reported over 3,212 Covid-19 cases.
District officials have said all wards in Edathala, Vengola and Mazhuvannoor panchayats and five divisions of the Kochi Municipal Corporation. The administration has announced fresh restrictions in these locked down containment zones.
