Colourful Idea: Carry an Umbrella and Combat COVID-19, the Kerala Way!

Kerala on Tuesday, recorded four new COVID-19 Positive cases. With that the state has recorded 485 cases so far, and currently has 123 active patients, said the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He also said that the state has 20,773 people under observation, 518 are hospitalised. Further 23,980 samples have been tested, and 23,277 have come back as negative.

Amid the other states in India, Kerala has been in the forefront to fight the novel coronavirus. The state had passed various laws, before the other states had even recorded cases. Through such active and swift measures, the state has been successful at reducing the death rates and minimising the positive cases. While the rest of the country is trying to attain social distancing, Kerala is blooming with ideas for achieving the same.

In Thaneermukam village, people are carrying an umbrella with them, which will ensure a minimum of one metre distance between one another. The idea was put forth by the state’s Finance Minister Thomas Issac's and it has now turned viral. "A resolution also has been passed by the council and will soon become a norm, as anyone who steps out of their house has to have an umbrella and this is meant to maintain the new social distancing norm," Issac told IANS.

"He often gives us lots of ideas and his idea to use an umbrella to ensure that the one metre norm is adhered to came as a blessing in disguise. In our council itself the Kudumbasree (women empowerment programme) unit manufactures umbrellas. We have started to give out umbrellas at subsidised rates of Rs 20/50 and 200 to our people," said Council President Jyothis to IANS.

"The resolution to this effect has been passed and people are being given umbrellas. We also have come out with a special umbrella that can be used by those who work under employment guarantee scheme."