The embattled State Government issued stringent guidelines to restrict public movement and crowding, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan advised people to avoid unnecessary travels and stay at home. Only essential services will function on Saturdays and Sundays. The exempted institutions are: telecom, IT, health services, media, milk supply, water supply and electricity supply. While vaccination centres will run on Saturday, participation in weddings has been restricted to 75 inside a hall and a maximum of 150 people in open spaces. Funerals can be attended only by 50 people. Those attending weddings have to carry an identification document and wedding invitation.

The Chief Minister also advised the people to avoid long-distance travels. But there are exemptions for purposes like wedding, funeral, visiting ailing close relatives and for buying food and medicines. Such travellers must carry a self-declaration form giving the reason for travel. Also, rail and flight services will continue during weekends. The travellers would, however, have to show ticket or boarding pass besides identity cards during police checks. Similarly, hotels and restaurants can allow home delivery. There is no bar either on people visiting restaurants to buy food. But they should carry a self-declaration form. Door-to-door sale of fish has not been banned. The vendors must strictly wear masks and strictly follow the covid protocol. The outlets of Beverage Corporation (Bevco) will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. More curbs are likely to avoid crowding at the Bevco outlets.

The daily count of fresh covid cases crossed the 28,000 mark on Friday, the highest tally till date. As the number will, in all probability, increase in the days ahead, and with the number of covid patients in the State topping one lakh, the State Government has decided to take up spaces in schools, public halls and facilities near places of worship in anticipation of a shortage of beds. In Ernakulam district, which reported the highest number of daily cases on Friday – it crossed the 4,500 mark - as many as 11 domiciliary care centres (DCCs) were opened. Besides, more first line treatment centres (FLTCs) will start functioning in Kochi Corporation limits. The test positivity (TPR) rate has touched a high of 19.97 per cent. There is a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud. Although the daily case count is high, the death rate in Kerala is the lowest. That is a creditable achievement which has deservedly earned praise from health experts.

In another development, the Chief Minister has strongly criticised the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) for finding fault with the mass testing strategy adopted by the State Government. The strategy, the KGMOA said, is beyond the capacity of the testing centres. The Chief Minister, however, said an association of doctors should not have adopted such a stance at a time when the focus should be solely on timely detection and treatment. Minor inconveniences that may arise during the process should be ignored, the CM added.

Another problem the State faces is the overcrowding at vaccination centres. An expert committee has been set up to evolve guidelines to avoid confusion and overcrowding at the vaccination centres. Only those who have registered online should turn up at the vaccination centres Online registration has been made compulsory for those awaiting the second dose of the vaccine, too. Most of the people in the State have been administered Covishield vaccine. And there was no need for worry if the second dose is delayed even by 12 weeks. From May 1, 1.65 crore people in the 18-45 age group will also be administered the vaccines in a phased manner to avoid overcrowding, which has become a super spreader of the dreaded virus. The CM has also warned the private hospitals against overcharging patients.

Meanwhile, the State has come down heavily on the new vaccination policy of the Centre. The policy will worsen the financial position of States which are already facing a serious crisis on account of covid. Instead of adding to the problems of the States, the Centre, the Chief Minister said, should provide vaccines to states free of cost and ensure adequate supply. Pinarayi Vijayan also took strong exception to the Seram Institute announcing that that vaccine will be sold to state governments at Rs 400 per dose and at Rs 600 to private hospitals. As per the new policy, vaccine manufacturers will give 50 per cent of their production to the Centre at Rs 150 per dose. The remaining 50 per cent will be given to states in open markets. This is highly discriminatory. And a policy that allows only those who can afford to buy the vaccine must be opposed tooth and nail.

The State needs 2.5 lakh doses per day to vaccinate 1.13 crore people in the above 45 age group before May 20. There is an acute shortage of vaccines. The state at present requires 3.70 lakh doses per day to meet the target. As against the State’s demand for 50 lakh doses, it has received only 6.5 lakh. The Centre has, in effect, passed on a huge burden on to the states, conveniently forgetting that it is the constitutional responsibility of the Centre to protect the health of the people by providing vaccine free of cost, the CM emphasized.

State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is also unsparing in his criticism of the new vaccine policy. It is highly regrettable that the Prime Minister has handed over the right to fix vaccine prices to the manufacturers. Is it his contention that only the rich heed to survive? It is shocking, Isaac said, there are people in the state who welcome this highly discriminatory and anti-people policy. The Centre has sabotaged the country’s tradition of free and universal vaccination, Isaac said, adding that the new policy will create a situation wherein the states will be forced to compete not only among themselves but also with private hospitals in the purchase of vaccine. The best option for the Centre was to buy the entire quota of vaccine and distribute it among the states on the basis of the number of covid patients there, Isaac opined.

Significantly, a number of public health experts have identified themselves with the sentiments voiced by the Kerala Finance Minister. They are of the firm view that the States should mount pressure on the Centre to ensure that the vaccine is supplied free of cost. The new policy is an open invitation to the manufacturers to increase the price any time and loot the people. The worst sufferers will be the poor and the marginalized.

The State Government has wisely decided to procure the vaccines directly from the companies. It is the right thing to do as the Centre has not responded to the Kerala Government’s request to ensure the supply of vaccine free of cost. An indefinite wait for the Centre’s response will only delay supply. The Chief Minister is on record that the Centre could reimburse the State after it procures vaccine from the market. It is time for speedy action. Controversies, polemics and debates can wait. Topmost priority should be accorded to saving precious lives. (IPA Service)