<span style="color: #222222;">In Kerala, 16,229 COVID positive cases were confirmed today. The test positivity rate further fell to 14.82 per cent. 25,860 recoveries and 135 deaths were also reported today. The total number of active cases in the state is 1,74,526.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that stringent restrictions will be implemented in the state from tomorrow till next Wednesday to contain the spread of infection. From tomorrow, only those shops and establishments selling essentials will be allowed to function. Government institutions will function only from 10th of this month with 50 per cent staff. Those who are coming to Kerala from outside the state, should mandatorily carry a COVID-19 negative certificate.</span><br />''  <br />