Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kollam declared as ‘C’ category districts; Theatres, gymns and swimming pools will be shut

Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kollam declared as ‘C’ category districts; Theatres, gymns and swimming pools will be shut

A decision on this regard was taken at the COVID-19 review meeting held here on Thursday.No public programmes will be permitted in districts placed under C category. Theatres, gymns and swimming pools will be shut. Places of worship will have to switch to online mode.

In view of the rising Covid-19 cases in Kerala, the state government has imposed new restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. Under the revised guidelines, while Thiruvananthapuram will continue in the ‘C’ category, which means that cases are rising rapidly, the districts of Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Kollam have now been included in this category as well.

The ‘C’ category also implies that the number of hospitalisations is also increasing, apart from a spurt in cases. Under the restrictions in districts under the C category, no public functions will be permitted and only online religious functions will be allowed. Gyms, swimming pools and theatres will be shut.

Only in the last semester, will students be permitted to attend physical classes in colleges.

Classes one to nine started with their online classes from January 21. A meeting will be held next week to decide on a possible extension.

The CM has asked district collectors to identify Covid clusters and issue restrictions. In government offices, pregnant women can get work from home. Government, aided, public sector and cooperative sector institutions should do all official events online.

In districts with a test positivity rate above 20 percent, the number of people in attendance at social, cultural and community events will be reduced to 50. If the test positivity rate goes above 30 percent, public events will not be allowed.