On January 17, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare the emergence of COVID-19 that was spreading across China. On January 30, 2020, the country’s first COVID-19 positive case was in Kerala. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic. This blog summarises the key policy measures taken by government of Kerala to respond to the pandemic.
As on April 22, Kerala has had 427 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 307 have recovered (highest rate of recovery in the country). Only three deaths have been recorded in the state so far.
Pre-lockdown period: Early measures for containment
Following the first confirmed case involving a returnee from Wuhan, China, the by the state were aimed at surveilling, identifying, and conducting risk-based categorisation of all passenger arrivals from China and others who had come in close contact with these travellers. As two more cases were confirmed on February 2 and 3, the state government a health emergency in the state.
Subsequently, a health was issued to track, identify, and test all travellers with a travel history to Wuhan since January 15, 2020. Such passengers and their close contacts were to be kept in isolation for 28 days. The advisory also directed all lodging establishments to maintain a register of travellers with travel histories to corona-affected countries. A similar advisory was issued for returnees as well. With no further confirmed cases being reported immediately, on February 12, the state the health emergency. However, a high state of response and surveillance continued to be applied.
Second wave of infections
When a second wave of infections began spreading in early March, the government took several multi-pronged measures to address the threat. The following measures were taken in this regard:
- Health measures: Revised guidelines for the clinical of COVID19 patients, covering testing, quarantine, hospital admission, and discharge, were issued.
- Instructions were issued regarding safety protocols as well as testing of nationals entering and exiting the state. All foreign arrivals, even if asymptomatic, were to be kept in isolation until their test reports were available.
- Further guidelines and precautions on social distancing and various hygiene norms, such as, use of sanitsers, were also issued to , shopping centres, and .
- Movement restrictions: All non-medical educational , including anganwadis and were immediately shut down till March 31 and exams of classes 1-7 were postponed. Exams for classes 8 and above were to be held as scheduled. University were also postponed till March 31.
- Government departments were asked to make regarding working hours of their employees. Officials were also instructed to look into welfare measures for .
- Guidelines were also issued to regarding working time, safety measures, and leave for employees.
- Administrative Measures: On March 17, COVID19 was declared a , thus becoming eligible for funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). SDRF is the primary fund available with state governments for responses to notified disasters. Notifying a disaster enables states to spend more from the SDRF to fight the said disaster.
- In order to better coordinate the state’s response, the government issued instructions to constitute in all departments. and inspections by government officials were also to be avoided.
- Local Self Government institutions were assigned various and responsibilities. These include: (i) running awareness programs, such as, ‘Break the Chain’ initiative, (ii) conducting sanitation and cleanliness drives, (iii) regular outreach to home isolated/quarantined persons, (iv) activating committee system to manage responsibilities, (v) ensuring availability of essential commodities, (vi) categorising and ensuring available response mechanisms, such as, material resources, volunteers, medical resources etc, and (vii) ensuring special attention to vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, and persons with co-morbidities or undergoing special treatments.
The lockdown period
On March 23, Kerala announced a till March 31. A day later, the central government announced a nation-wide .
Restrictions imposed under the state’s order included: (i) stoppage of all forms of passenger transport services, (ii) prohibition of a gathering of more than five persons, and (iii) closure of all commercial establishments, officers, and factories, except those exempted. Use of taxis, autos or private vehicles was permitted only for procurement of essential commodities or for medical emergencies. Establishments providing essential goods and services such as banks, media, telecom services, petrol bunks, and hospitals were permitted to operate.
On April 15, the central government till May 3. Some of the key measures undertaken during the lockdown period are:
Administrative Measures
- A round-the-clock , comprising members of different departments, was set up to monitor and supervise all COVID-19 containment activities.
- A was set up to monitor and tackle the threat of fake news surrounding COVID19.
- With the legislature not in session, was promulgated by the Governor of Kerala on March 26. The Ordinance empowers the state government to undertake necessary measures and specify regulations to counter the threat of an epidemic disease. It also specifies a penalty for those who violate orders made under this Ordinance.
Healthcare Measures
- Treatment guidelines: The government, on March 26, declared the . On March 24, the government had issued for the investigation and treatment of COVID-19 cases. A week later, a for isolation/quarantine and testing was released.
- Advisories were issued for: (i) antenatal and delivery care for , (ii) and routine vaccination of children, (iii) ensuring continuity of services for , and (iv) management of .
- Testing: Regular guidelines regarding testing were also issued. They include (i) on using rapid diagnostic kits, (ii) in-principle such rapid kits, and (iii) guidelines for by the private sector.
- Resource management: To respond to the increase in confirmed cases, guidelines were issued to into COVID hospitals. The tenures of on March 31 were extended up to June 30. measures for Health Inspectors were also introduced.
- Guidelines were issued for in all COVID-19 hospitals, in order to ensure the safety of the frontline health workers.
- Further, to prepare the next phase of response, the government has also issued (i) guidelines to , and (ii) released criteria for .
Essential Goods and Services
- On March 25, the state declared a under the Kerala Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1994.
- Various exemptions from lockdown were issued to services that were later deemed essential. These include: (i) , including departmental stores, (ii) , (iii) , for delivery of essential goods, (iv) automobile service , (v) for mobile phones, computers etc, only on Sundays, and (vi) to undertake maintenance work in houses and flats.
- On April 3, orders were issued to set up under the aegis of Kudumbasree and Local Self Governments (LSGs). Kudumbasree is the poverty eradication and women empowerment programme implemented by the Kerala government. As on April 20, a total of 339 have been functioning in 249 panchayats across 14 districts of the state. They have served a total of 5,91,687 meals since April 4, 2020. The government has also instructed LSGs to hire volunteers for the kitchen and pay them an of Rs. 400 (for one-time service) or Rs. 650 (for the whole-day).
Welfare Measures
- Under SDRF norms, funds were released to the for relief and response activities for COVID-19.
- Each has been allocated Rs. 50 lakh for carrying out various COVID-19 outbreak-related control and prevention activities.
- Financial assistance has been sanctioned to (i) , (ii) , (iii) , and (iii) and other such animals being looked after.
- A 2000-crore worth was announced for people facing lockdown-related unemployment and hardships. The scheme will be operationalised through neighbourhood groups under the aegis of Kudumbasree.
Post-lockdown strategies – Strategies easing lockdown relaxations
- Expert Committee: On April 4, an was constituted by the government and on April 6, the Committee submitted its on the guidelines for post-lockdown regulations. It recommended a conditional, three-phase strategy, with districts being the unit of implementation. Relaxations would be progressively eased in each phase depending on criteria, such as, (i) number of new confirmed cases, (ii) percentage increase/decrease in number of persons under home surveillance, and (iii) no emergence of hotspots..
- Containment Guidelines: After the lockdown was extended till May 3, the state released , that recommended classification of districts into four zones, based on number of cases and disease threat. The zones – Red, Orange A, Orange B, and Green – would have different, graded restrictions, with Red having stringent restrictions in the form of a lockdown till May 3. The Orange A and B zones would have a lockdown till April 24 and 20 respectively, followed by a partial relaxation thereafter. Green zone would have a lockdown till April 20 and relaxation in restrictions thereafter.
- Based on the above order, the state issued an to follow while resuming operations. Some of the Standard Operating Procedures to be followed include: (i) conducting disinfectation of premises, machinery, and vehicles, (ii) arranging exclusive transportation facilities with vehicles operating at 30-40% capacity, (iii) mandatory thermal scanning of people, (iv) following hygiene and social distancing norms, including a cap on elevator capacities and size of meetings (v) mandatory corona-related insurance cover for workers, (vi) mandatory use of CCTVs, and (vii) preparing a list of nearby COVID-19 hospitals .
For more information on the spread of COVID-19 and the central and state government response to the pandemic, please see here.
