Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that Kerala was on the path of recovery from the second wave of Covid-19 attack and the lockdown declared in the month of April would be gradually lifted.
“The Test Positivity Rate during the last few days have been satisfactory as there has been a dip in the intensity of transmission and reduction in the number of new cases reported from various districts. Hence the decision to slowly lift the lock down,” said Vijayan in his media briefing.
He said the State on Tuesday diagnosed 12,246 new Covid-19 cases while 166 persons succumbed to the pandemic. “There are 1.12 lakh patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19 across the State. Last month the corresponding figure was 4,45 lakh. Since the number are coming down, we have decided to simplify the lock down procedure. The Beverages Corporation’s liquor outlets would be opened from 9 AM on Wednesday,” disclosed the chief minister.
There has been a State-wide demand for lifting the lock down on liquor outlets. “We have been paying `5,000/- for a full bottle of whiskey which in normal times would not have costed `750,” said Jayagopal , an entrepreneur based in Ernakulam.
The Chief Minister said that all Government offices would function for five days a week with 25 per cent staff on a rotation basis.