Kerala govt issues new Covid guidelines; restricts movement for unvaccinated

The Kerala government on Saturday issued fresh set of coronavirus guidelines, restricting movement of those who have not taken at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

The state government has allowed in-house dining for hotels, restaurants and bars, saying they will be reopened with 50% seating capacity and the staff should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Earlier on Friday, the Kerala government had issued draft guidelines for the reopening of schools in the state, which includes allowing only two students to sit in a bench and scrapping of mid-day meals for children.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty had said the draft guidelines will be finalised within five days after holding discussions with health and other concerned departments.

"The draft guidelines include allowing only two students on a bench and scrapping of mid-day meals. Instead mid-day meals allowance will be given to the students. The body temperature of the students will be regularly measured. Gatherings will not be allowed," the minister said.

He also said that online classes would continue along with offline classes. Sivankutty said differently abled students need not attend the schools in the initial phase and online awareness classes will be held for the parents of the children.

The minister added that hand washing facilities, sanitisers and masks would be arranged in the schools and the classes sanitised every day.

Meanwhile, Kerala reported 16,671 new COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths on Saturday, taking the infection count to 46,13,964 and the death toll to 24,248.