THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After Kottayam and Idukki were classified as hotspots on Monday, government deputed ADGP (coastal security) K Padmakumar to coordinate various lockdown measures in both districts.
“Lockdown will be strictly enforced. Borders will be sealed in Idukki through joint patrolling with forest authorities. Hotspots have been cordoned off and entry and exit will be allowed via a single point. Essentials will be delivered at doorsteps in hotspots. Adequate police personnel have been mobilized and we are fully alert,” he said.
Government also appointed IG (south zone) Harshitha Attalluri to Idukki to supervise the activities of police, especially to seal the porous border with Tamil Nadu. Government has also appointed Vaibhav Saxena, who is the commandant of Kerala armed police battalion-1 as the special officer for Idukki and R Vishwanath, commandant of Kerala armed police battalion-5 as the special officer for Kottayam. Special officers will work under Padmakumar to coordinate police bandobast in both districts along with respective district police chiefs.
Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha have sealed borders with Idukki and Kottayam, respectively. Except the movement of essential goods and medical services, movement of people across the border from Kottayam and Idukki to these districts will not be allowed.
Relaxation reason behind spike in cases, says doc
No fresh cases were reported from Kottayam and Idukki, which together has 31 covid-19 cases currently. However, confusion prevailed over three new cases in Idukki. Though on Tuesday morning, Idukki collector said three people were confirmed with Covid-19, the chief minister, in his press conference in the evening, said those cases were yet to be confirmed.
Dr Sajith Kumar R, head of the department, infectious diseases, Kottayam Medical College said the situation was not worrisome and it has not reached an epidemic stage. “The relaxation that came in the middle of the lockdown in Kottayam and Idukki districts could be one of the reasons for the spike in the cases,” he said. He also ruled out local spread of the virus. Each one have come from various places. The mother of a nurse and those who had come into contact with a head load worker in the market were the ones who got infected, he said. Going by numbers, it may appear alarming but it has not reached a serious epidemic stage, he added. None of the patients are serious and they all have mild symptoms only, Kumar said.
Following the surge in the number of cases, the administration is prioritizing testing of more people. Apart from the four sample collection centres, six mobile collection centres are also functioning.
Those who have come in contact with the Covid patients, pregnant women, health workers and elderly people are being given priority. Entry into and exit from the district have been banned. Strict vigil is being maintained in the 14 check posts in Kottayam district.
No testing facility in Idukki
People of Idukki are currently being tested at Thalappady in Kottayam district. Authorities are planning to send samples to Ernakulam and Alappuzha as well as the number of suspected cases are rising. Power minister M M Mani said the district has no facility for installing the machine used for testing Covid-19. It will take a minimum of one month to make a new one operational, he said.
(With inputs from Kottayam bureau)
“Lockdown will be strictly enforced. Borders will be sealed in Idukki through joint patrolling with forest authorities. Hotspots have been cordoned off and entry and exit will be allowed via a single point. Essentials will be delivered at doorsteps in hotspots. Adequate police personnel have been mobilized and we are fully alert,” he said.
Government also appointed IG (south zone) Harshitha Attalluri to Idukki to supervise the activities of police, especially to seal the porous border with Tamil Nadu. Government has also appointed Vaibhav Saxena, who is the commandant of Kerala armed police battalion-1 as the special officer for Idukki and R Vishwanath, commandant of Kerala armed police battalion-5 as the special officer for Kottayam. Special officers will work under Padmakumar to coordinate police bandobast in both districts along with respective district police chiefs.
Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha have sealed borders with Idukki and Kottayam, respectively. Except the movement of essential goods and medical services, movement of people across the border from Kottayam and Idukki to these districts will not be allowed.
Relaxation reason behind spike in cases, says doc
No fresh cases were reported from Kottayam and Idukki, which together has 31 covid-19 cases currently. However, confusion prevailed over three new cases in Idukki. Though on Tuesday morning, Idukki collector said three people were confirmed with Covid-19, the chief minister, in his press conference in the evening, said those cases were yet to be confirmed.
Dr Sajith Kumar R, head of the department, infectious diseases, Kottayam Medical College said the situation was not worrisome and it has not reached an epidemic stage. “The relaxation that came in the middle of the lockdown in Kottayam and Idukki districts could be one of the reasons for the spike in the cases,” he said. He also ruled out local spread of the virus. Each one have come from various places. The mother of a nurse and those who had come into contact with a head load worker in the market were the ones who got infected, he said. Going by numbers, it may appear alarming but it has not reached a serious epidemic stage, he added. None of the patients are serious and they all have mild symptoms only, Kumar said.
Following the surge in the number of cases, the administration is prioritizing testing of more people. Apart from the four sample collection centres, six mobile collection centres are also functioning.
Those who have come in contact with the Covid patients, pregnant women, health workers and elderly people are being given priority. Entry into and exit from the district have been banned. Strict vigil is being maintained in the 14 check posts in Kottayam district.
No testing facility in Idukki
People of Idukki are currently being tested at Thalappady in Kottayam district. Authorities are planning to send samples to Ernakulam and Alappuzha as well as the number of suspected cases are rising. Power minister M M Mani said the district has no facility for installing the machine used for testing Covid-19. It will take a minimum of one month to make a new one operational, he said.
(With inputs from Kottayam bureau)
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