Prohibitory orders in 12 panchayats in Kozhikode

Health Department to hold mass COVID-19 testing camps on Wednesday and Thursday

Restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been imposed in Kuruvattur, Chemanchery, Kayanna, Chengottukavu, Perumanna, Velom, Chelannur, Arikkulam, Thalakkulathur, Eramala, Chakkittapara and Olavanna grama panchayats in Kozhikode district where a daily test positivity rate (TPR) of over 25% for COVID-19 has been reported between April 12 and 18. Only five persons will be permitted to attend public gatherings, including at places of worship, and weddings and funerals. Information about such events shall be entered in the ‘event register’ service in COVID Jagratha portal and the list shall be shared with the rapid response teams (RRTs). All other gatherings should be avoided. Commercial establishments, except fuel stations and shops selling groceries, fruits and vegetables, and medicines, may function from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hotels shall permit in-house dining till 7 p.m. and can provide takeaways or parcels till 9 p.m. All employment and livelihood related activities will be permitted only in compliance with the pandemic protocol. RRTs and sectoral magistrates have been asked to follow ‘Social distancing, Masking, and Sanitising’ protocol in shops and commercial establishments and any violation will lead to the closure of units. The restrictions will be in force until the TPR falls below 20% after ensuring minimum 80% of the test target laid out for the local bodies. Grama panchayats have been asked to hold at least 90 tests a day, municipalities 270 and the Corporation 2,000.