<span style="color: #222222;">In Kerala, the State Government has extended the lockdown till 9th of June.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">With active cases dropped further, more relaxations are being allowed in the state.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that even as the average test positivity rate and active case load in the State is declining considerably, this is not sufficient to withdraw the present lockdown restrictions in the state.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">70% of the ICU beds in the Government hospitals are filled now.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Chief Minister said that the government has decided to withdraw triple lockdown in Malappuram district and continue the lockdown with more relaxations.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Industrial units and shops that sell raw-materials can be operated with 50 per cent work force.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Banks will function till 5 P.M .on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Textile and footwear shops and bookstores are also allowed to open thrice a week.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Vijayan said that the vaccination process will be accelerated from the next week as more vaccines will arrive in the state on the first week of June.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, the state recorded 23,513 new COVID cases today, taking the active caseload to over 2,33,000.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In all, 198 deaths were confirmed due to COVID, taking the total death toll to 8,455. </span><br />''  <br />