Kerala’s ‘Triple Lockdown’ Explained: Here’s What’s Allowed And What’s Not

On May 16, Kerala recorded 29,704  fresh Covid positive cases, 89 new deaths taking the total toll of fatalities up to 6428. The Covid positivity rate was recorded at 25.61 per cent. In order to tackle the surge in Covid cases, the Kerala government has implemented a triple lockdown in four districts of the state that reported the highest number of Covid cases. The triple lockdown came into effect from midnight of May 16 and will remain in force till May 23. Here’s everything you must know about Kerala’s triple lockdown.

What Is Kerala’s Triple Lockdown?

Four districts of Kerala, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram have implemented a triple lockdown starting from May 16, midnight till May 23. These four districts are facing a severe Covid spread and are now placed under a highly restrictive triple lockdown. The remaining 10 districts of the state shall undergo a general lockdown with more exemptions permitted. This triple lockdown strategy was earlier experimented by Kerala in Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram districts in 2020. The triple lockdown involved concentrated interventions by the law enforcement and administration at three levels, to restrict the movement of the public and allow the smooth operation of essential sectors.

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What’s Allowed?

• Shops and bakeries selling vegetables, grocery items, fruits, fish and meat under cold storage are allowed to operate for three days a week from 8 am to 2 pm. Home delivery will not be allowed after 2 pm.
• Milk and newspaper distribution must be completed before 8 am.
• Only home delivery of food from restaurants will be permitted from 7 am to 7:30 pm.
• Home nurses and domestic help can travel using a pass procured from Kerala Police.
• People working in telecommunication and electrical sectors can commute using identification cards.
• Only essential service providers from in or outside containment zones can move out for work.
• Maveli, SupplyCo, ration shops and other public distribution stores can operate till 5 pm
• Medical stores, ATMs, petrol pumps, hospitals, clinical labs and shops selling medical equipment can operate
• Marriages, public and private functions, that are pre-decided before the lockdown, can take place with a maximum of 20 people as guests. Organisers of such events must register on the Covid-19 Jagratha portal.
• Bans in Ernakulam can operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm with a minimum number of employees.
• Delivery personnel and E-commerce can function from 7 am to 2 pm
• To travel between the four districts, you need special passes from the police.

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What’s Not Allowed?

• Restaurants will not be open for dine-in facilities or takeaway.
• Street hawkers and vendors selling food on carts will not be allowed
• All houses with positive and primary contact families will be sealed. People from containment zones will not be permitted to step out. No outside person can enter the containment zone even if it’s for the exempted category of work.
• Marriages, funerals and other public and private functions which are not predecided before the lockdown, must be postponed.
• All religious places of worship remain closed
• Entrances and exits to all 4 districts in Kerala will be closed except for essential travel.
• Drones and Geo fencing technology will be used to monitor people in the 4 districts and to clamp down restrictions.

Now, that you have the required knowledge about Kerala’s triple lockdown, if you’re from Kerala ensure you keep this in mind. Mask up, use sanitisers, stay home and stay safe.