Kerala is all set to further tighten the lockdown laws to check the spread of coronavirus in the State in the backdrop of the increase in the number of persons testing positive, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Chief Minister lambasted the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for his efforts to derail the arrangements and upset the rhythm of the safety measures being followed by Kerala to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Railways tried to send two trains from Mumbai to Kerala without getting the concurrence of the State Government. We in Kerala have devised strategies to receive people reaching the State by air, train and roads. That’s why we insist that the State Government should be kept in the loop before sending trains or aircraft or other means of transport. What the Union Railway Minister has done is not befitting the stature of a person occupying that position. He should not have tried to interfere with the administration of Kerala,” said Vijayan in his first press briefing after his 75th birthday on May 23.
Vijayan said he has informed the Railway Minister and the Prime Minister about the faux pas committed by the Railways in sending the trains to Kerala without seeking the State’s permission.
The Chief Minister, who se village is one of the hotspots of coronavirus warned the people in the State from taking tea or soft drinks from shops which have reopened after the lockout. “The shops selling tea and soft drinks in the State are not cleaning the glassware properly after it is used by consumers. This is a sure recipe to the spread of the covid-19 pandemic and this is being disclosed as a warning to the people,” said Vijayan.
Vijayan said as on Tuesday 415 patients were under treatment in various hospitals for covid-19. “Today 67 persons were tested positive in the State.
Out of this 27 were from foreign countries while 33 were from other States in the country. Till date 963 persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala. We have put 1,04, 336 persons under observation out of which 1, 03, 528 were under home/institutional quarantine.
On Tuesday, 186 persons have been admitted to various hospitals for coronavirus,” said the Chief Minister.
He also disclosed that 56,000 samples have been tested in the State till date. There are 68 hotspots in the State as on Tuesday.
“There are 808 patients undergoing treatment for covid-19 pandemic in the State as on today. There was a time when there were only 16 persons undergoing treatment for the pandemic in the State. This means that the coronavirus cases are on the increase and we ore on the verge of community spread. People in the State themselves are trying to subvert the lockdown rules which has led to the present situation,” said Vijayan.
The Kerala Chief Minister was all praise for Rajdeep Sardesai, TV anchorperson, for complimenting the services rendered by the Kerala Government in fighting coronavirus. ‘Sardesai contributed all his earnings he made in the Kerala Calling programme to the Chief Minister’s Fund to fight the coronavirus. We in Kerala are obliged to him,” said Vijayan.