The Kerala government on Saturday issued orders enhancing the daily limit of pilgrims permitted for this year's Sabrimala monthly - Karkkidaka pooja from 5,000 to 10,000. As per the previous orders issued before the commencement of the monthly pooja at Sabarimala temple, the government had allowed only 5,000 pilgrims in view of covid-19.
However the state government after reviewing facts the government decided to enhance the capacity of pilgrims to 10,000.
A week ago, the government in view of COVID-19 had issued orders to be followed during the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam. According to the orders, devotees with complete COVID vaccination certificates or RTPCR negative report, issued within 48 hrs, will only be allowed.
Only those producing COVID-19-negative certificates from RT-PCR tests done within 48 hours or those who have taken two shots of vaccine will be permitted entry to the temple.
Earlier in May, the temple board had imposed a ban on the entry of pilgrims to the hill shrine in view of the worsening pandemic situation.
Meanwhile, Kerala on Saturday recorded 16,148 fresh COVID-19 cases, pushing the infection caseload to 31,46,981, while the toll rose to 15,269 with 114 more deaths. As many as 13,197 people were cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 30,06,439, leaving 1,24,779 active cases, a state government release said.
Kozhikode logged the most number of cases (2105), followed by Malappuram (2033), Ernakulam (1908), Thrissur (1758), Kollam (1304), Palakkad (1140), Kannur (1084) and Thiruvananthapuram (1025).
The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) stood at 10.76 per cent. There are currently 3,99,634 people under surveillance in various districts of the state. Of these, 3,74,822 are in home or institutional quarantine and 24,812 in hospitals.
