Kerala COVID-19 restrictions to remain in place for next 1 year

Kerala Health Department on Sunday issued a notification extending the enforcement of state's COVID-19 regulations till July 2021. Which means that the people will have to wear masks, maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings till July 2021. The new regulations known as ‘Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Additional Regulations, 2020’, will be in force for a year i.e till July 2021, or till further government direction.

The District Collectors have been instructed to ensure due compliance of the regulations. The state government has said that whoever contravenes the regulations shall be punishable under the provisions of the Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020.

Here are the guidelines that will remain in place till July 2021 in Kerala:

Wearing of Mask/Face Cover

All persons shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask/face cover in all public places, workplaces, any place where the public has access, all kinds of vehicles and during transport.

Social Distancing

All persons shall maintain a social distance of six feet between person to person in all public places and functions.

Marriage Functions

In all marriage ceremonies and any functions thereafter the maximum number of participants at a time shall not exceed fifty persons. All persons in such ceremonies/functions shall use sanitiser, wear face cover/mask and shall keep a social distance of six feet between them. Organisers of marriage or functions shall provide sanitiser for the use of the participants.

Funerals

In funeral functions, the maximum participants at a time shall not exceed twenty persons and all of them shall wear face cover/mask, use sanitiser and also keep a social distance of six feet between them. In the case of Covid suspected death, the standing instructions issued by Government of India and state government shall be complied.

Social Gatherings

No manner of social gathering including get together, processions, dharna, congregation, demonstration etc, shall be conducted without the written permission of the concerned authority. The maximum participants in such social gathering shall not exceed ten persons. Those participating in such gathering shall wear face cover/mask, use sanitiser and observe a social distance of six feet between them.

Shops and commercial establishments

In shops and all other commercial establishments, the maximum number of persons/customers permitted at a time shall not exceed twenty depending on the size of the room to keep social distancing of six feet between persons.

All the persons and customers in the shop shall wear face cover/mask and shall observe a social distancing of six feet between them. Owner of the shop shall provide sanitiser for the use of customers.

Prohibition of spitting in public places

No person shall spit in public places, road or footpath.

Registration in COVID-19 Jagratha e-platform

All those who intend to visit Kerala from other states/union territories and from any other country shall furnish the details as prescribed in the web-enabled 'COVID-19 Jagratha e-platform' established by the state government for contact tracing, ensuring quarantine and other Covid-19 combating measures to minimise the potential of spread of the epidemic.