Kerala issues new guidelines for quarantine, containment zones

Web Desk

With more people coming back to the State and an increase in the number of new cases, Kerala on June 11 came out with a new set of guidelines for quarantine and also redefined the rules for declaring new containment zones.
Briefing the media, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “63.63 per cent of those coming back to Kerala from other states are from the Red Zones. Accordingly, the quarantine guidelines are being revised as per the recommendation of the Expert Committee. Those coming from abroad can go home after giving an affidavit but they will have to follow the quarantine conditions strictly. Police will take legal action against those who violate quarantine rules. Those who register on the COVID Jagratha portal should give an affidavit about home quarantine. They can choose their own house or any other suitable house. The LSG bodies should make sure that they have enough facilities at home for quarantine. Institutional quarantine is only for those who don’t have such a facility at home. Paid quarantine is for those who opt to stay in hotels.”
The LSG body will inspect the house based on the affidavit and approve home quarantine or institutional quarantine or paid quarantine, if found inadequate. The approval should be communicated to the concerned Local Self Government, Police, Covid Care Centre Nodal Officer and District Collector.
The Chief Minister also announced some changes to the definition of the containment zones. “The Containment Zone will be notified every night before 12. In the Panchayats, the Containment Zone may be declared at the Ward level and in Corporation, at the Sub Ward Level. They can be defined at a very local level based on the number of positive cases for people under quarantine, primary contacts and secondary contacts. Initially, the containment zone will be declared for seven days which can be extended after review by the District Collector.”