The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has lashed the Kerala government's decision to eliminate restrictions ahead of the Eid celebrations as the coronavirus threat is showing no signs of stoppage in the state.

In the course of the continuing pandemic, the Kerala government on Friday relaxed lockdown restrictions from July 18 to 20 for the festival in view of Bakrid. Shops selling clothes, footwear, electronics, jewellery, etc, will be permitted to stay open till 8 pm.

 'IMA is pained to see amidst the rising of cases and Seropositivity, the Kerala government has issued an order to ease lockdown conditions on the pretext of religious gatherings of Bakri Id. It is unwarranted and inappropriate at this time of medical emergency. When many Northern states like J&K, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal have stopped, with a constructive sense of public safety the traditional and popular pilgrimage Yatras, it is unfortunate that the learned state of Kerala has taken these retrograde decisions." The IMA said in a statement.

The Medical Association asked the government to change the decision and restore the restrictions immediately. The voluntary organisation of the medical community described the Kerala move as most unfortunate at a time when the north Indian states are cancelling major pilgrimage programmes in view of the Covid threat.

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