Travel restrictions come into place in Thiruvananthapuram, as Covid-19 cases rise
With the coronavirus community transmission looming, the Thiruvananthapuram city corporation has clamped down on travel, by restricting key entry points and enhancing patrolling of affected areas.
The functioning of Palayam and Chalai markets and major shopping centres will be affected as shops can only be opened on alternate days. The police will control the entry of people into public places. This could affect domestic tourists to a great extent.
The decision will be applicable to malls and supermarkets also. The city has decided to strengthen monitoring of fishermen going to Tamil Nadu shores.
All shops should have washing areas and sanitisers and physical distancing has to be followed strictly. Shops which fail to follow these steps will be shut down and the licences cancelled temporarily.
A meeting of traders in Chalai and Palayam markets will be held at the city corporation office as soon as possible to communicate the new restrictions and measures to be taken for smooth functioning of shops.
The main roads in Manacaud, Kalady and nearby areas have been sealed off by erecting barricades, with police officers stationed at entry points.
“We will increase our monitoring in the coastal regions to ensure that there is no local transmission. As of now we have 31 institutional quarantine centres. Five new such centres will be opened based on health circles of Vizhinjam, Poonthura, Attipra, Shanghumugam and Kazhakoottam which cover our coastal region,” said Mayor K Sreekumar. The decision was taken in the wake of concerns about local transmission in the coastal areas.
The meeting held at Thiruvananthapuram city corporation office to form a new plan of action had Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, District Collector Navjot Khosa and DMO P P Preetha in attendance apart from Mayor K Sreekumar, council party leaders, police and corporation officials.
The Mayor’s Complaint Cell will attend more cases than earlier. Complaints can be sent to complaints.tmc@gmail.com or through the website smarttvm.corporationoftrivandrum.in or through the WhatsApp number- 8590036770.