Nipah Virus Containment Zone In Kerala: What's Allowed and Restricted?

Guidelines for Containment Zones in Kerala: In response to the Nipah virus outbreak that resulted in two fatalities and two additional infections in the northern Kerala district, the Kerala government has imposed restrictions to contain its spread.

Recognizing the severity of the disease, Kozhikode Collector Geetha A announced the designation of containment zones in response to the Nipah outbreak in the district. She shared this information via a Facebook post, outlining specific guidelines for these zones:

The containment zones encompass 43 wards within 7 Grama Panchayats:
Ayanchery: Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15
Maruthonkara: Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14
Thiruvalloor: Wards 1, 2, 20
Kuttiady: Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Kayakkodi: Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Vilyappalli: Wards 6, 7
Kavilumpara: Wards 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Guidelines for the containment zones are as follows:

• In containment zones, individuals must maintain social distancing, wear masks, and use hand sanitizers.
• Entry and exit to/from containment zones are strictly prohibited, and barricades will be placed at each ward's entrance.

Nipah Virus in Kerala: Here's what's open and closed

Open:

• Medical shops and essential retail stores are allowed to operate within the containment zones. Business hours are restricted to 7 am to 5 pm.
• Medical shops, health centers, and hospitals within the containment zones can operate without time limits.

Closed:

• Local government and village offices should function with minimal staff. They are encouraged to promote online transactions and minimize in-person visits.
• Banks, schools, and anganwadis must remain closed until further notice.
• Public road transportation within containment zones is prohibited.
• Vehicles traveling on national and state highways are not allowed to stop within the containment zones. District transport officers and regional transport officers are responsible for enforcing this restriction.