Kerala triple lockdown- July 2021- Feasible?

The Kerala government on Sunday decided to impose triple lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram corporation limits following a spike in coronavirus cases. The announcement came hours after the sate said the capital district was 'sitting on an active volcano' with rising number of COVID-19 cases and there was no guarantee that there would be no community spread. While the lockdown would be implemented from 6 am on July 6, the authorities say it would last for a week.

 

The objective of the triple lockdown implemented in Thiruvananthapuram is, reportedly, to break the chain of transmission, and will include the complete suspension of all movement, and business activities, excluding those of essential services. All roads, barring one leading directly to the city, are to be blocked off, with law enforcement personnel stationed around the clock to prevent movement of people. ATMs, petrol pumps, pharmacies, grocery and vegetable vendors, hospitals, and cooking gas agencies have all been deemed essential services, and will be allowed to operate within particular windows.

 

 

Moreover, trucks carrying essential supplies, along with workers engaged in utilities and sanitation services will be allowed to move around the city, granted they are carrying signed declaration forms describing the nature of their work. Offenders are to be fined. While no public transport will be operational, special transport will be organised for individuals travelling to or from railway stations and airports. Educational institutions have also been ordered shut, with public examinations postponed.

 

Earlier in the day, the state government also said it would conduct more antigen tests in the district to check the spread of the virus. The moves taken by the state against the pandemic have always attracted a lot of attention, may it be Nypah virus or the corona virus. But the fact to wonder is why did the state face upsurge in corona virus cases even after the 'Kerala model' against COVID-19 made rounds around the world? The state says has imposed more stricter lockdown with only essential services being made available. It seems that the state has no economy on its priority list.

 

Kerala has the tenth largest economy in India and the service industry dominates the state economy. Kerala's high GDP and productivity figures with higher development figures is often dubbed the 'Kerala Phenomenon' or the 'Kerala Model' of development by economists, political scientists, and sociologists. With the above mentioned restrictions imposed on transport, how does the state plan to reach its GDP estimate of 13.6 per cent by 2021? The spread of Corona virus is dangerous and that the mass health must be on priority, but the state cannot afford to ignore the economic drawback it is to face in the near future.

 

Further, lockdown has become a new normal now, not only in the state but country wide. People have changed their business routines and converted them to the available online platforms. While, they are able to note a bit of development in their businesses, the low pressure, laxing attitude towards their routine is somewhere foreboding. The state moreover wants people to follow the guidelines till July 2021?

 

While the state definitely needs to think about the feasibility of the decision, there is no question of other Indian states even thinking about adopting the same. Breaking the transmission chain of COVID-19 is important but July 2021 seems too far and keeping the economy on stand by till then is not at all appreciable.