In a bid to control the spread of the novel Coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan, the Kerala government on Sunday issued a notification extending the enforcement of the COVID-19 regulations till July 2021.
The Kerala government made it mandatory for the public to adhere to Covid-19 safety guidelines such as wearing masks for the next one year, as part of its measures to tackle the spread of the virus in the state.
Through an amendment brought to the Epidemic Diseases Act, the state government said the regulations for the public will remain in effect until July 2021. The norms have been issued under ''Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Additional Regulations, 2020.''
"All persons shall maintain a social distance of six feet between person to person in all public places and functions... In all wedding ceremonies and functions thereafter the maximum number of participants at a time shall not exceed 50 people," it read.
The guidelines state that no manner of social gathering including get together, processions, dharna, congregation, demonstration, etc. will be allowed in the state without the written permission of the concerned authority while adding that the maximum participants in such social gathering should be ten persons with people required to follow social distancing norms at all times.
The Kerala government further said that a minimum of six feet distance will have to be maintained in all public places and functions. It will also be compulsory of the people to wear face masks at public places and workplaces, the Kerala government noted.
Kerala government said that a maximum of 50 people will be allowed to attend a marriage function, adding that social distancing norms will have to be followed and the organizers will have to provide hand sanitizers to the guests.
In the case of funerals, the guidelines noted that 20 people will be allowed to attend it while maintaining social distancing. In the case of COVID-19 suspected death, the standing instructions issued by the Government of India and the Kerala government shall be complied with, the state government added.
Speaking about shops and commercial establishments, the state government said that the maximum number of 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.
The Kerala government further mentioned that spitting at public places will be strictly prohibited in the state until July 2021. And in order to travel to Kerala, all residents and non- residents must register with the COVID-19 Jagratha platform before undertaking the journey.
The District Collectors have been instructed to ensure due compliance of the regulations. Those who violate the rules shall be penalized under the provisions of the Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020.
The decision has been taken to control the spread of the novel Corona Virus in the state. So far, the highly contagious coronavirus has affected over 5,000 people and claimed the lives of 25 people in the state, according to the data available at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
