Triple lockdown a success: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The triple lockdown that was implemented in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts is a success, and the people cooperated with the stringent measures, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The chief minister said that the people’s cooperation towards triple lockdown shows the determination of the people to fight against the pandemic. He said that there are positive signs with respect to the reduction in the spread of the pandemic after the lockdown has been implemented. He said that the daily average case that was 37,144 from May 1 to 8, reduced to 35,919 in a week after the lockdown began. In eight districts, the rate of spread reduced by 10% to 30%, in which the highest reduction was recorded in Wayanad.
However, in Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram and Palakkad, the cases are still on the rise, with Kollam showing the highest increase (23%). The chief minister said that the present reduction indicates that the lockdown would become beneficial.
In the districts where the triple lockdown was implemented, police checking at the checkpoints were tightened, which led to vehicles which carried the exempted category of people having to lay for longer time in the queue. Those who could not convince the police were sent back by the police.
“The impact of triple lockdown can be measured from the steep drop in the number of people who are coming out in those four districts. It has started on a right footing as we see the response from the public. The villages and towns within those districts have been cut off, with a single entry and exit points, and in the containment zones, it is a complete lockdown with only the essential services allowed,” ADGP (law and order) Vijay Sakhare said.
He said that the police have given wide publicity regarding the restrictions put in place, and when an emergency case like an ambulance carrying a patient reaches a barricaded point, the policemen would guide them on how to take the right exit. “The barricades that have been erected in such places will take a longer time to be removed for an ambulance which will cause a much greater delay than it takes if the same vehicle is redirected to exit through the allowed entry or exit point,” he said.
For example, in the capital district, where some incidents of ambulances plying on medical emergencies being redirected from barricade points have been reported, the police have publicized alternative routes which can be used for such emergencies.
Those ambulances coming from Vazhayila side can take Peroorkkada-Marappalam-Pattom, or Peroorkkada-Kowdiar-Vellayambalam-PMG, or Kowdiar-Vellayambalam-Vazhuthacaud-Thampanoor routes. Similarly, those from Kundamankadavu area can take Thirumala-Pangode-Edappazhanji-Vazuthacaud route, and those ambulances from Poojappura area can take Jagathy bridge-Edappazhanji-Vazhuthacaud route.
The vehicles from Thamapnoor can take Bakery Junction-Palayam-Asan Square-General Hospital route or the secretariat-Palayam-Pattom route. Similar is the case in other districts too, with specific roads being earmarked for such emergency purposes.
In addition to the 10,000 policemen deputed for districts where triple lockdown is in place and 25,000 policemen across the state for managing the general lockdown, 2,476 trainee civil police officers, 391 trainee women civil police officers and 167 trainee sub-inspectors are also on active Covid duty.