KOZHIKODE: District Collector A Geetha has declared wards of seven gram panchayats of Kozhikode as containment zones in the wake of Nipa being confirmed un the district.

Ayancheri Gram Panchayat-1,2,3,4,5,12,13,14,15 entire ward, Maruthonkara Gram Panchayat-1,2,3,4,5,12,13,14 entire ward, Thiruvallur Grama Panchayat - 1,2, 20 entire ward, Kuttiyadi Grama Panchayat-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 entire ward, Kayakodi Grama Panchayat -5,6,7,8,9 entire ward, Vilyapally Grama Panchayat - 6,7 entire ward, Kavilumpara grama panchayat - 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, the entire ward has been declared as containment zone.

The collector informed that no travel in or out of the areas above the containment zone will be allowed. The collector stated that strict barricading should be done in the said wards and the police and the secretaries of the concerned local government departments should ensure this. Only outlets selling essential items including food items and medicines are allowed. Working hours are from 7 am to 5 pm only. There is no time limit for drug shops and other health centers.

Local government/village offices should be run with minimum staff but no other institution including government semi-government public sector banks, schools, anganwadis should remain open until further notice.

Public access to local bodies and villages should be restricted and online services should be encouraged as much as possible. Vehicular traffic on public access roads in the above wards should be prohibited. Those travelling on the national highway and state highway and buses on this route are not allowed to stop anywhere in the above mentioned wards. Instructions in this regard should be given by the regional transport officer and the district transport officer. In the above areas declared as containment zone, social distancing should be maintained and mask and sanitizer should be used compulsorily.