Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, the Kerala assembly has passed a new emergency act for the prevention of contagious diseases.
Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, the Kerala assembly has passed a new emergency act for the prevention of contagious diseases.
On Wednesday the CM of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan updated that there were 9 new reported cases of COVID-19, in the state.
Out of this three cases were reported in Ernakulam, two cases each in Palakkad and Pathinamthitta and one case each in Idukki and Kozhikode.
Four of the cases, were people who returned from Dubai, one person from England and one person from France. The other three persons contracted the disease from COVID-19 patients.
A total of 72,542 people are under quarantine, all over the state, he informed. Out of the total number, 76,010 people have been quarantined in their houses and 532 people are at hospitals. On Wednesday alone, 122 people have been admitted into hospitals.
Out of the confirmed cases more than 100 are people who have returned from other countries. The remaining have contracted the disease through contact with the sick person. 12 people have recovered from the disease and have been discharged from hospitals.
Briefing about the act at a press conference in Tiruvananthapuram, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that, the Kerala assembly has recommended the governor to issue an order for a emergency act for the prevention of contagious disease from spreading,
"The Kerala Assembly has decided to recommend to the governor, to pass an emergency act for preventing the spread of contagious diseases 2020, to control the spread of contagious diseases", informed the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. He informed this at a press meet in Tiruvanandapuram.
"The new act will cancel the existing Thiruvidhangoor Contagious Diseases Prevention Act and the Cochin Contagious Diseases Prevention Act. The 1797 Contagious Diseases Prevention Act being enacted at the Malabar regions will also be canceled, on account of this new act", he said.
"This new act will enable the government with more power to control the programmes being held by the public, both individuals and groups. The act will also give the government authority to close the borders of districts and control public and private vehicle transport. The government can also bring about social control rules", he added and further said," public places, places of religious worship can be restricted, controlled and banned, from hosting gatherings. It also gives the government authority to control the functioning of government offices, educational institutions and private organisations. Factories, shops and buildings also come under their purview. Time restrictions can also be brought about."
"Any persons violating this law can be punished with upto two and half years imprisonment or Rs.10,000 penalty or both. Police can file cases directly on the offenders. Manufacturing and buying of Coronavirus prevention products and medicines will be permitted without tenders. As a part of the preventive measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, all liquor stores, and toddy stores, have been decided to be closed down", he said.