In the wake of the Kerala government announcing relaxations in COVID-19 protocols in view of Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha), the Indian Medical Association (IMA) warned that such relaxations would prove to be disastrous.
The IMA warned that they would approach the Supreme Court if the Kerala government does not withdraw the relaxations.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said textiles, footwear shops, jewellery, fancy stores, shops selling home appliances and electronic items, all types of repairing shops and shops selling essential items shall be allowed to open on July 18, 19 and 20 from 7 AM to 8 PM in category A, B and C areas. In D category areas, these shops can function only on July 19, he said.
Areas with a Test Positivity Rate of less than five per cent are included in category A, those with 5 to 10 per cent are included in category B, areas with 10 to 15 per cent in category C and those above 15 per cent will be in category D.
"When many northern states like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttaranchal have stopped, with a constructive sense of public safety the traditional and popular pilgrimage yatras, it is unfortunate that learned state of Kerala had taken these retrograde decisions," a statement from the IMA read.
The chief minister had said places of worship can be allowed with a maximum of 40 people on special occasions of celebration.
The doctors body said it was pained by the decision of the Kerala government as the relaxations come even as the state is witnessing a high number of COVID-19 cases.
Kerala recorded 13,956 COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The state now has 1,25,041 active cases.
A few days ago, the IMA had made an appeal to the Centre and state governments over complacency with regard to pandemic protocols, saying a third wave is imminent and hence it is not wise to go ahead with tourist activities, mass gatherings and religious pilgrimages. “Holding any festival is not advisable as it can be dangerous. IMA requests the government to reconsider their decision regarding any kind of mass gatherings," IMA president Dr. J.A. Jayalal had said.
