Kerala Mass Testing: Target Of 3 Lakh Tests Per Day Ordered, Complete Lockdown On Weekend

Kerala government has ordered complete lockdown in the state on July 24 & 25. It has also directed the State Health & Family Welfare Department to conduct a mass testing campaign. The target is 3 lakh tests per day. There will be a complete lockdown on 24th and 25th July 2021 with the same guidelines as issued for 12th and 13th June 2021, the state government said. This comes after the state government withdrew its state-wide lockdown on June 16 & gave a three-day relaxation in Covid-19 restriction for Bakrid, allowing textile shops, jewellery, footwear shops etc to open for three days from July 18.

However, on July 19, Supreme Court asked the state government to file a response on an application against the three-day relaxation. The top court said it is a shocking state of affairs that the Kerala government has given in to the demand of traders in relaxing lockdown norms. Positivity rate in Kerala continues to remain over 10 per cent and the state is reporting 10,000 to 15,000 fresh cases every day.