Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Kerala Chapter has recommended the Kerala government to declare health emergency in the State, considering the current scenario of "very critical" COVID 19 transmission.
IMA has told the State Government to enforce stringent regulations in the conduct of functions, demonstrations, protests, and festivals all over the State in compliance with the COVID protocol. It has also demanded to ensure that the malls and shopping complexes operate only in strict compliance with the COVID protocol.
IMA has come up with such a recommendation based on the finding that most of the COVID patients in the State, in the past few days, contracted the disease through contact. A nationwide study conducted by the IMA has also revealed that Kerala is ahead of the national average when it comes to contracting the disease. IMA puts forth two main precautionary measures which have been advocated by the State's Health department right from the beginning - wearing face masks properly and maintaining the recommended physical distance.
Read: Covid-19 infection jumps from 0.73 to 7.1 percent among adults in India
The Government must make sure that the COVID-19 preventive measures like proper handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are followed by the public, the IMA suggested. As there is still crowding in shops and public places despite the awareness campaigns and COVID-19 regulations, the IMA suggests that the physical distancing regulations must be stringently enforced to contain the spread. The IMA Kerala chapter has requested the State Chief Minister in written format to declare a health emergency in the State in this very critical situation.
People must avoid spending time in congested or closed rooms. The recent lapse and slips among the public in strictly following the COVID precautions must be checked. The number of tests being done must be increased and those who test positive must be isolated quickly. More than one lakh tests must be done every day. People should not go out other than to buy essentials and for work-related needs. Visits to relatives’ and friends’ must be avoided. As people gather in large numbers for public meetings, demonstrations, protests and celebrations, such occasions must be totally restricted. The IMA suggested that political and cultural leaders must come forward to bring these regulations into effect.
Of the total 4538 persons who have turned positive for COVID 19 on Monday, September 28, 3997 have contracted the disease through contact. As many as 6404 persons contracted COVID 19 through contact out of the total 7445 who tested positive in Kerala on September 27. It is considering this state of COVID transmission that the IMA has written to the Chief Minister seeking to declare a health emergency.
Also read: Global COVID-19 tracker
