PALAKKAD: With Palakkad district reporting a surge in COVID-19 cases in the recent days, Minister AK Balan on Monday said that the situation in the district is becoming more critical. He added that a lockdown has been imposed in Pattambi Taluk and Nellaya panchayat. The minister also took the opportunity to lash out at the opposition and said that opposition leaders must realise the seriousness of the situation and refrain from conducting protests.

"COVID transmission has led to the formation of a cluster in Pattambi. The government has been allotting funds to all local governments to combat the situation.," the minister said. "The upcoming days are crucial. We should keep politics aside and fight together against the pandemic. Political rivalry can be one factor that may lead to COVID transmission. Though the government is not against the protests, the ongoing protests during the time of pandemic cannot be justified. The opposition should not risk the lives of common people," he added. He also said that more number of COVID tests will ve conducted throughout the state in the upcoming days.