After six more fresh cases of coronavirus reported in Kerala on Tuesday, the state government decided to close the educational institutions and cinema houses till the month-end.
With the fresh cases, the number of coronavirus-infected persons in Kerala has risen to 12.
The Kerala government decided to impose several restrictions in a bid to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.
Talking to reporters after a special cabinet meeting on the state’s situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at least 1,116 people are under observation for coronavirus in the state.
Out of the total people under observation, 149 are in isolation wards of various hospitals and 967 under home quarantine, the chief minister said.
According to media reports, the fresh cases are friends and relatives of a couple and their son who recently returned from coronavirus-hit Italy.
They were tested positive for the deadly virus along with two other kin staying with them at their home at Rane in Pathanamthitta district on Saturday.
Kerala health minister KK Shailaja, who was also present at the media interaction, said, “The aged parents of the couple are among the six latest positive cases.”
Apart from these, a three-year child, who also returned along with his parents from Italy, tested positive in Kochi on Monday.
Kerala chief minister Vijayan said schools and colleges and the cinema halls would remain closed in the state till March 31.
Classes from I to VII standards of all schools – state, CBSE and ICSE boards – will remain closed and the examinations which have begun for them will be put on hold.