Covid-19 lockdown in Kerala extended till May 23

The Kerala government has extended the lockdown in the state till May 23. Triple lockdown will be imposed in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Malappuram districts where the Covid-19 spread is very severe.

In view of the allegations of black marketing and overpricing of many health care products, the state also fixed maximum retail prices for a series of products ranging from masks to oximeter.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the effects of the lockdown already in place from May 8 to 16 were yet to be known. Experts said that this month was very crucial in curbing the second wave of Covid-19 and hence, the lockdown was being extended, he said.

Maximum retail prices were fixed for various health care products by invoking the Kerala Essential Articles Control Act, 1986. Some of the rates fixed by the state government include PPE kit: Rs 273, N95 mask: Rs 22, triple-layer mask: Rs 3.90, face shield: Rs 21, disposable apron: Rs 12, surgical gown: Rs 65, gloves: Rs 5.75, hand sanitiser 500 ml: Rs 192, hand sanitiser 200 ml: Rs 98, hand sanitiser 100 ml: Rs 55, sterile gloves one pair: Rs 15, NRB mask: Rs 80, oxygen mask: Rs 54, flow metre with a humidifier: Rs 1,520 and fingertip pulse oximeter: Rs 1,500.

The state government had recently fixed rates for Covid-19 treatment at private hospitals, following widespread allegations of private hospitals charging exorbitant rates.

As the Covid-19 surge continues, the state also changed the testing strategies and discharge protocols. The practice of reconfirmation using an RT-PCR test on those testing Covid-19 positive in antigen test would be done away with. Patients who remain asymptomatic after treatment would be discharged without conducting tests.

The Chief Minister also said that vaccination to those in the 18-45 age group in the state will begin from May 17.