COVID update: Kerala announces a complete lockdown from 8 to 16 May

Given the COVID-19 situation in the country, Kerala government has announced a complete lockdown from May 8 to 16 to cap the spread of the highly contagious virus. The test positivity rate in Kerala has crossed the 25 percent mark in one week, and has breached 40000 daily positive cases mark.

Earlier, weekend restrictions were imposed by the state government to help the situation. But, given the current scenario and rapidly increasing positive numbers, the state has decided to go in a complete lockdown. The 9-day complete lockdown is prompted by the current emergency COVID situation as the new mutant is causing havoc like never before in the state.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, during a press conference, mentioned that to curb the infection rate, stricter containment measures will be required. Though Kerala has been able to manage the COVID pressure better than most states so far, the Minister said that the state might face the fate as other states if they don’t take precautionary measures right now.

The CM also took to Twitter and tweeted:
"The entire state of Kerala will be under lockdown from 6 am on 8 May to 16 May. This is in the background of a strong second wave of COVID-19.".

The entire State of Kerala will be under lockdown from 6am on 8 May to 16 May. This is in the background of a strong 2nd wave of #COVID19.

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) May 6, 2021

On Wednesday, Kerala reported the highest ever single day positive cases.