Though Kerala’s Department of Health brought down the number of samples tested on Friday to 95,218, the Covid-19 cases continued to remain unabated in the State. A total of 41, 668 persons were diagnosed with the pandemic during the last 24 hours and the Test Positivity Rate surged to 43.76 per cent. A total of 51, 607 persons succumbed to the pandemic in the State till Friday evening, according to a release issued by Veena George, minister of health.
The Government of Kerala suffered a setback on Friday as a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court asked the Kasaragod district administration not to allow any public meetings attended by more than 50 persons. Though the District Disaster Management Authority had issued an order limiting the number of persons that could assemble for any meeting to 50, the district collector reportedly under political pressure issued a new order stating that the number of persons that could be allowed to attend public meetings should be decided based on the Test Positivity Rate as well as the number of beds available in the district.
A Public Interest Litigation filed in the High Court on Thursday had pointed out the restrictions were compromised possibly to facilitate CPI(M) district meetings. It has been argued by the petitioner that the Chairperson of the Disaster Management Authority can only amend his orders on certain new circumstances for the purpose of prevention of disasters or their mitigation.
The Kasaragod district meeting of the CPI(M) was underway at Kasaragod in violation of all safety protocols when the High Court delivered its interim order. “What is so special about the political party meetings? The number of persons who could attend the Republic Day itself has been restricted to 50,” said the Division Bench.
Taken aback by the High Court order, the State leadership of the CPI(M) decided to hold the Thrissur district committee meeting which began on Friday. Though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was scheduled to be present in Thrissur for the three day event, his hospitalization in USA has led to the cancellation of the public meetings which were to be held on Friday and Sunday.