'Break The Chain': Commuters In Kerala Made To Sanitise Their Hands After Getting Off Bus

In a bid to fend off COVID-19, Kerala has launched a 'break the chain' campaign, and a video shows commuters sanitising their hands soon after they get off a bus.

Reports state that the Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher inaugurated the mass campaign to sensitise the towards the importance of public and personal hygiene in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

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Hindu Business Line quotes Shailaja as saying that the government has so far been able to contain the spread because of early surveillance and people's support. "We need to evolve personal hygiene as a healthy habit and wash our hands and face after coming into public contact. This can help break the chain of virus infection."

Under the 'Break the Chain' campaign, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government has installed water taps at public spots such as at the entry and exit gates of the railway stations with hand wash bottles.

How decentralised health edu works? See commuters washing their hands after getting down from a bus in #Kerala's Calicut. Bcoz of Kerala govt's #BreakTheChain campaign, grassroot orgs have installed hand wash/sanitisers across public places like mofussil bus stops. #KeralaModel pic.twitter.com/VwrZsRjDpG

¡ª Nidheesh M K (@mknid) March 18, 2020

It is also urging people to use hand sanitisers when they are outdoors. Sanitisers have also been made available in all offices.

According to the Hindu Business Line, the Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (KSDP), a public sector undertaking based in Alappuzha, has begun production of hand sanitisers, to meet growing demands.

The immediate target is to produce one lakh bottles in 10 days for the Kerala Medical Services Corporation.

As reported by India Today, Kerala has already reported 30 COVID-19 cases and home quarantined 17,743 people so far. Additionally, around 18,472 people are under surveillance, of which 268 are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

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The Kerala government has decided to open COVID-19 care homes which can accommodate 5,000 people in isolation near all four airports in the state.

"When more people from infected countries arrive in the state, we have to isolate them for minimum of 14 days to break the chain of viral transmission. It's not advisable to home quarantine them as the chances of risks are higher. The district administrations have already identified buildings and we can open such centres if emergency situation demands," Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher told India Today.