Kochi's Lulu Mall closed temporarily after the Kalamassery Municipality area (Division 34) declared a containment zone by the authorities. The Ernakulam district collector has declared the division as a containment zone on Tuesday night. According to the Lulu mall authorities, the mall will remain closed until further notice. "The reopening date will be declared only later after disinfection. The date will be decided and will reopen only after the discussion with the district administration officials," said Lulu officials.

The COVID cases are steadily rising in the district and the health officials have warned the public to take all caution and preventive measures against the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, according to health officials, 10 employees from a mall in Edapally tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. "We have placed the mall under the scanner and the rest of the employees and other staff working at the mall are placed under quarantine. Since the COVID cases are rising in the district, people should careful while going to a public place. Masks and social distancing is the key to contain the spread in public places," said the health official. "In the last couple of weeks, we have received complaints from the general public that many are not following the COVID norms in public places, especially in malls. We have alerted the police in this regard," added the health official.

Earlier the district collector had declared Division 34 as containment zones after 50 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the district from the area. Following this, Lulu Mall was closed for a few days and was reopened after disinfection. So far over 12000 COVID cases have been reported in the Ernakulam district. As many as 3982 persons are undergoing treatment in the district for COVID.