School classes to go online again, restrictions in offices and malls, weekend curfew likely to be imposed, Covid review meet today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of rising Covid and Omicron cases, the review meet to be chaired by the chief minister on Friday is likely to discuss on further restricting the functioning of schools, colleges, offices and malls.

Classes from one to nine are likely to go fully online and classes ten, plus one and plus two may continue in the present situation. The meet will consider weekend restrictions also. Minister for Education V Sivankutty met the chief minister yesterday to discuss about the functioning of schools and the exams to be conducted. The minister said a decision on the closure of schools will be taken today.

The situation in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam is serious. New Covid clusters were formed at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and Engineering College. Today's meeting is crucial as the chief minister will not be in the state for the next two weeks. A review meeting convened last Monday decided to reduce the number of people attending weddings and funerals to 50.

Health Minister Veena George had yesterday mentioned that strict action will be taken against the institutions hiding Covid clusters. The private nursing college in Pathanamthitta hid the Omicron cluster from the health department. The district medical officer has been directed to take action against this institution.