Triple lockdown (more restrictions) to remain in force in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation area from 6 am tomorrow for a week, Kerala Chief Minister's Office informed. Triple lockdown is a measure considered stricter than curfew allowing only police personnel’s movement. As per the orders, all non-essential services will be restricted and the general public has been requested to avoid travel of any sort. The Secretariat will also be shut and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be working from Cliff House, his official residence.

This decision comes after 22 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Cause of infection for 14 of these cases is unknown while the others have been attributed to local transmission.

Earlier, Kerala Health Department issued a notification extending the enforcement of the state's COVID-19 regulations till July 2021. This means that the people will have to wear masks, maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings till July 2021. The new regulations are known as ‘Kerala Epidemic Disease Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Additional Regulations, 2020’, will be in force for a year i.e till July 2021, or till further government direction.

Meanwhile, the state government has made facemask and social distancing mandatory for one year unless otherwise notified. These are among the additional regulations of Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020 notified by the government.

Shunning masks in public places can cost an offender dearly in Kerala. For the first-time offender, the government has set a penalty of Rs 200. If repeated the fine will go up to Rs 5000. However, the government has very recently raised the penalty for repeated offenders to Rs 10000.

According to this, all persons should use facemask or face cover in all public places, workplaces, any place with public access and all kinds of vehicles. A physical distance of at least six feet between persons has to be maintained in public places and during functions. Participants of marriage functions should not exceed 50 at a time. Organizers should provide a sanitizer.

For funerals, a maximum of 20 persons is allowed. Social gatherings like get together, protests and demonstrations need the prior written sanction of authorities, with no more than 10 people allowed to take part.