Explained: Kerala's 'triple lockdown' to stop Covid-19 spread

NEW DELHI: There has been a continuous debate going on across the globe about the best strategies to contain the spread of Covid ever since the pandemic began last year. Lockdown, containment zones and quarantines have become a part of our vocabulary since the last year.
Recently, Kerala added another new term to this discussion: triple lockdown.
Here's all you need to know about the triple lockdown:-
What is Triple lockdown?
While we are familiar with lockdowns as such in which activities are stopped and only essential services are allowed, to run, a triple lockdown takes these restrictions up another notch.
Along with the usual restrictions, drones and Geo Fencing technology are being used by the Kerala government as part of its triple lockdown.
"Triple lockdown is the most rigorous way to control the spread of the disease," said Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
The boundaries of the districts will be closed with only one entry and exit point to and from the places where the triple lockdown has been declared.
When was it announced?
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced on May 14 his government's decision to impose a week long triple lockdown from May 16 midnight in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram.
"The positivity rate remains high, so the state government has decided to extend the complete lockdown in Kerala till May 23. Triple lockdown will be imposed in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram, where the test positivity rate is higher," he said.
What are the rules in a triple lockdown?
"Areas, where the triple lockdown is being implemented, will be divided into zones and the task of control will be handed over to higher police officials," said Vijayan.
He further said drones will be used to detect crowds and geo-fencing technology will be used to track those in quarantine.
The state government will register a case under the epidemic act against those who skip quarantine and help people to skip quarantine
"Ward committees should take the necessary steps for home delivery of food from community kitchens and Janakeeya hotels, said Vijayan.
As per the norms issued by the Thiruvananthapuram district administration, shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, animal fodder, poultry and cattle feed, bakeries were opened Monday.
They would be open on alternate days starting from Monday onwards and all shops would close, including for home delivery purposes by 2 PM.
Banks, insurance and financial services will function with minimal staff on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Cooperative Banks will remain open only on Monday and Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM.
According to the guidelines, milk and newspaper distribution shall be completed before 8 AM.
Fair price shops (Ration/PDS/Maveli /Supplyco shops) and milk booths are permitted to function on all days till 5 PM while restaurants and hotels will be allowed to function from 7 AM to 7.30 PM with home delivery services only.
No dine-in and take-away/parcels shall be allowed in any restaurants or hotels, it said.
Medical shops, petrol pumps, ATMs, shops selling life- saving equipment, hospitals and other clinical establishments shall be functioning on all days.
Authorities have advised the public to buy provisions and vegetables from shops near their houses and not to travel long distances for the purchase of provisions and vegetables.
The public will be prevented from travelling long distances for purchase of essential commodities, they said.
"All other social activities should be avoided in these places. Ten thousand policemen will be deployed to strictly enforce the triple lockdown," the CM said.
(With agency inputs)