Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ruled out a complete lockdown, stating that "it will create a huge crisis for the economy and livelihoods" even as the state witnesses the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Kerala continues to register a high number of corornavirus infections daily. The state reported 29,322 new cases and 131 deaths on Friday.
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He instead advised social immunity must be built and caution should not be compromised at all.
The Chief Minister said that while the test positivity rate was between 18 and 20 per cent, Kerala was able to keep the death rate at 0.5 per cent.
He said neighbourhood monitoring committees comprising government officials, local volunteers and residents' associations would be set up for COVID-19 prevention.
He warned people in home quarantine should not step out of their homes or they will be fined.