Life returning to normal in Green zones, restrictions eased

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the nationwide lockdown has entered its third phase on Monday, life in the Green zones in Kerala is slowly returning to normal with authorities announcing considerable relaxations. Several shops selling essential goods within the green zones as well as in other areas outside the containment zones have started functioning on Monday.
Apart from public transport, beverage outlets, barbershops and multi-storeyed buildings, most other shops and markets have started functioning in these regions. The shops will remain open till 7.30 pm in the evening. Though the odd-even scheme has been implemented for vehicles, the increasing number of vehicles on the road, especially in villages and small towns, is raising concern.Meanwhile, the authorities have stepped up vigil at all interstate and inter-district borders. People are allowed to move past the borders only after undergoing strict checking. Authorities are also taking action against those who were not using face masks in public.Several shops including mobile showrooms have been allowed to function three days a week. Though certain wards in Neyyatinkara municipality, Balaramapuram and Parassala panchayats have been designated as containment zones, restrictions have been eased in other parts of Thiruvananthapuram district such as Thiruvananthapuram city and other rural areas. The Chala market, which reopened on Monday, is witnessing good crowd since morning.In Kollam district, Kulathipuzha, Chathannur and Oachira regions are experiencing restrictions. On the other hand, life in Alappuzha district, a green zone, has almost returned to normal.Though the borders of the Kottayam district have been closed to contain the spread of Covid-19, those markets and shops outside the containment zones have been permitted to function from Monday onwards. On the other hand, Palakkad and Idukki districts are on high alert as several Keralites stranded in neighbouring Tamil Nadu have started returning back to the state.Ernakulam and Thrissur, both green zones, have also started witnessing huge crowds after several markets and shops started functioning on Monday. However, the authorities have not eased the restrictions in the Malabar region.