The steady rise in COVID-19 cases over the past one month and the significant number of COVID-related deaths has had Kerala reinforcing the mask mandate yet again in the State.
In a circular issued to all District Police Chiefs dated June 22, the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) has said that the GO of April 27, issued by the Chief Secretary making masks mandatory in public places, should be compulsorily implemented and that the violation of the mandate will be punishable under the Disaster Management Act and other relevant laws in the State.
Kerala’s COVID-19 case graph had been at a consistent low of around 300 new cases daily for over a week and the active cases had fallen below the 3,000 mark, when on April 7, the government issued orders rescinding all COVID-related restrictions on civil life.