Centre asks Kerala to follow lockdown guidelines, not allow eateries and buses to operate

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Centre asks Kerala to follow lockdown guidelines, not allow eateries and buses to operate
Centre asks Kerala to follow lockdown guidelines, not allow eateries and buses to operate

Kerala : Centre on Monday asked Kerala to follow the lockdown guidelines issued by the government in order to make it successful, do not allow eateries and bus services for short distance.

Sources said, “Government of India has written to Government of Kerala over dilution of guidelines issued by MHA and violation of MHA Order dated 15th April 2020 issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005.”

On Sunday, the Kerala government had announced relaxations with operation of buses and eateries in two zones.

Kerala Police chief Loknath Behera said the relaxations of restrictions imposed would come into effect in the Green and Orange-B zones in the state from Monday.

"Such additional activities allowed by GoK, inter alia, includes opening of local workshops; barber shops; restaurants; book stores; MSMEs in municipal limits; bus travel in the cities/towns for shorter distance, two passengers in the back seat of four-wheelers; pillion riding on scooters," the Centre has said in its letter and added that these activities violate the MHA order.

The Kerala government has divided the districts into four zones for containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Red zone comprises Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram. In the red zone, a complete lockdown will be in place until May 3. Two entry and exit points are allowed for carrying essential commodities to COVID-19 hotspots.

Orange (A) zone comprises Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Kollam. A lockdown will be in effect until April 24 and then partial relaxation will be allowed.

Orange (B) zone comprises Alappuzha, Thrissur, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad. A lockdown will be in effect until April 20 and then partial relaxation will be allowed.

Green zone comprises Kottayam and Idukki. A lockdown will be in effect until April 20 and then regulations will be eased.

Vehicles

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit are allowed to run.

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Vehicles with numbers ending with even digit are allowed to run.

Bus service

Short-distance bus services will be allowed with extreme caution. The buses can only travel for a distance of 50-60km within the district. Passengers will have to wear masks. Hand sanitisers should be used before entering the bus.

No passenger will be allowed to stand and travel. In three-seat rows, the middle seat should be left vacant, while only one person will be allowed in a two-seat row.