Chandigarh, March 22

One more patient on Sunday tested positive for coronavirus, officials said. With this the total number patients rose to six in the city.

The health condition of all the six positive cases is stable, an official statement said.

One young male, the secondary contact of the first positive case who had returned from Britain, sampled at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32 was positive for COVID-19.

The sample of another male taken at the GMCH was negative.

The total number of positive cases in Chandigarh rose to six, it said.

A day after a student who returned from Britain was diagnosed coronavirus positive, the city on March 20 tested four more positive cases, prompting authorities to impose a ban on gatherings of over 50 people. — IANS

Shimla, March 22

Almost complete voluntary shutdown on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Janata curfew’ to prevent coronavirus spread was observed on Sunday in the BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh.

Almost all towns and villages witnessed deserted streets with shops and business establishments closed to mark the pan-India solidarity.

Reports of the shutdown of shops and other establishments were received from the state capital, Rampur, Theog, Solan, Dharamsala, Palampur, Kullu, Una, Bilaspur and other places.

With state-run roadways and private transport completing shutting their services, buses were off the roads.

The entry and exit of all contact carriers and inter-state carrier buses were banned, except limited services not exceeding 10 per cent with proper arrangements of sanitisation only to most frequent destinations like Delhi, Haridwar and Chandigarh by state transport buses from March 21 midnight onwards.

In Shimla, a majority of shops were closed in various localities. People avoided morning walks.

However, the supply of milk was normal.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday urged the leaders of all political parties to give wholehearted support to the government to check the coronavirus spread. And, there is adequate stock of essential commodities.

Chairing an all-party meeting here, he said the government would deal the cases of hoardings and profiteering of essential commodities sternly.

The government has decided to postpone the date of payment of various public utility bills like electricity and water without any extra charges.—IANS

Srinagar, March 21

The Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Wakf Board today ordered the suspension of congregational prayers at its mosques and shrines ahead of the Meraj-ul-Alam celebrations.

“In view of the outbreak of coronavirus, declared as pandemic by the World Health Organisation and as a preventive measure to contain its spread in Kashmir Valley and due to restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC by the district administration, it is hereby ordered to suspend regular prayers in shrines/mosques affiliated to the Wakf Board and displaying of Holy Relic (PBUH) on the occasion of the Meraj-ul-Alam (SAW) celebrations,” read an order issued by the Wakf Board. — TNS

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 21

The Kashmir valley remained deserted as an unprecedented lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus entered its second day on Saturday. More people arriving in the region were put under quarantine.

For the second consecutive day, markets remained closed in Srinagar — a city of more than a million people which is observing an almost complete shutdown.

Police and paramilitary personnel remained stationed in the region and had blocked roads across the city to prevent the gatherings of people.

The lockdown began on Friday in Srinagar after the first positive coronavirus case was reported on Wednesday. All educational institutes in the region remain closed.

Apart from Srinagar, several other districts in south and north Kashmir have also imposed Section 144 which restricts large gatherings.

As the region battles the spread of coronavirus, more people arriving in the region were put under quarantine as part of widespread preventive measures.

An official of the Srinagar civil administration said 225 people, who arrived in the city from Bangladesh and other countries on Saturday, were “isolated to undergo quarantine”.

More than 600 people now remain isolated at 50 quarantine facilities set up in the city. The administration has also invoked Disaster Management Act-2005 to meet the growing challenges caused by the threat.

As part of the latest measures, Srinagar District Magistrate Shahid Choudhary also ordered cancellation of all gazetted holidays in the city with an aim “to strengthen the response apparatus”.

The administration has released Rs 3 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund to strengthen the response mechanism against the spread of the coronavirus. The fund will be utilised to procure “requisite equipment and items for effective response mechanism”, the official said.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

The Punjab Chief Minister on Sunday issued orders for shutdown of all non-essential services and businesses with immediate effect till March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Only essential services will be allowed to function. All Deputy Commissioners and SSPs have been directed to issue relevant orders and implement the restrictions immediately, a top government functionary told The Tribune.

On Saturday, seven districts had ordered shutdown till Wednesday. The new order has put in place a shutdown till March 31 all across the state.

Only essential services such as the police, health, power, emergency transport, supply of milk, food items, medicines, etc, will continue.

New Delhi, March 21

The Delhi government on Saturday said the novel coronavirus was causing “terrible financial stress” to the poor and announced that those receiving ration from fair-price shops would get 50 per cent extra for next month.

During his first-ever digital-only press conference, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal doubled the pension for widows, differently abled and elderly for this month.

Urging people to stay indoors, Kejriwal said the government had not imposed a lockdown in Delhi for now, but would have to do it if the need arises in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

“We are extremely concerned about daily wagers, labourers who have been hit hard over the coronavirus crisis; don’t want anyone to go hungry,” he said, adding that lunch and dinner would be provided for homeless in night shelters.

The Chief Minister said restrictions due to COVID-19 were causing terrible financial stress to the poor.

“Seventy-two lakh people in Delhi get ration from fair-price shops. Ration per person is being increased by 50 per cent. It will be provided free,” Kejriwal said.

The government has doubled the pension for widows, differently abled and the elderly for this month, he said, adding that would benefit 8.5-lakh beneficiaries.

“The government has also reduced the size of social, religious and political gatherings to not more than five people,” Kejriwal said. “It has not imposed a lockdown in Delhi for now, but will have to do it if the need arises.” Considering some people may have to travel due to an emergency, 50 per cent of the buses will ply on roads in Delhi during the ‘Janata curfew’ on Sunday, he said.

The Chief Minister urged the elderly to stay indoors, and skip morning and evening walks for time being as “they are the most vulnerable group and need special care”.

He announced that the goods and services tax would be waived to make it more affordable for those who needed to be quarantined and were opting for the paid hotel facility.

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, March 21

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday announced a comprehensive relief package for the 1.65 crore daily wagers, small businesses, MNREGA beneficiaries as well as the old age, disability and widow pension holders to tide over their loss of livelihood due to the Covid-19.

CM Yogi said each of them would be given free ration for a month that includes 20 kg of wheat and 15 kg of rice. The 80,000 PDS shops across the state would distribute the free ration under the supervision of a nodal officer.

The relief measures are based on the recommendations of the three-member committee set up after the Cabinet meeting on March 17 to provide a subsistence wage to daily wagers during this period by suggesting ways to help the most marginalised.

The committee headed by the Finance Minister included the agriculture and labour ministers. It was expected to submit its report within three days.

CM Yogi said the roughly 20.23 lakh construction labourers registered with the Department of Labor would be paid a subsistence wage of Rs 1,000 directly into their bank accounts.

Additionally, the same subsistence wage would be paid to the 15 lakh persons doing odd jobs identified in a statewide survey. They are cart pullers, rickshaw drivers, kiosk owners, and small businesses impacted by the closure of markets.

CM Yogi said orders have been issued to pay all pending wages to the MNREGA beneficiaries before the end of March. The 83.83 lakh beneficiaries of the old age, disability, and widow pension would also be paid their April-May pension in advance to help them face the crisis.

According to the Chief Minister, if any person in either a rural or urban area is still left out from the safety net he or she should go through the district administration to demand the Rs 1,000 subsistence wage.

Appealing to the people to remain calm and abstain from stocking things more than required, Yogi assured of adequate food supplies, medicines, sanitisers, masks and other essential items in the state.

Entry of Outsiders banned at Ram Mela

Lucknow: In view of the growing menace of Covid-19, the Uttar Pradesh Government has banned the entry of outside pilgrims at the annual Ram Mela in Ayodhya beginning March 25. The Ayodhya district administration on Saturday issued an advisory preventing outsider pilgrim from entering the holy city until April 2. Ayodhya district magistrate Anuj Ojha said pilgrims entering the district would be stopped at the border. TNS

Kolkata: In order to check non-essential social gatherings that may spread Covid, West Bengal government on Saturday ordered closure of all restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, amusement parks, museums and zoos in the state from Sunday. A home department notification stated the order would remain in force till March 31. It stated that in case of a social gathering, held under exceptional circumstances, it must be very small in size so that social distance could be ensured. TNS

AIMIM: Memorials can’t protect people

Aurangabad: AIMIM’s Maharashtra unit head MP Imtiyaz Jaleel said memorials could not protect people in times of a pandemic which was why it was important to build hospitals instead. Funds allotted for constructing memorials should be utilised for building hospitals, he stressed. Taking to Twitter, Jaleel said, “No smarak (memorial) of any leader would protect you in times like these! Hospitals will! That’s why I am opposing memorial building and instead asking for hospitals to be made with that money (sic).” PTI

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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 21

District administrations of Jalandhar, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Bathinda, and Nawanshahr have ordered lockdowns over the next few days on Saturday, as coronavirus cases in Punjab spikes to 13.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma and Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar announced that the lockdown would begin at 7 am on Sunday to midnight of Wednesday.

“Only one person from a family would be allowed to move out for availing the essential services,” the officials said.

All commercial establishments except those that sell essentials remain shut,

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Sunday happens to be the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed the public to join what he called a “janata curfew” from 7 am to 9 pm on Sunday. Only emergency service vehicles will be allowed on roads both within and outside city limits.

Similar lockdown orders came from Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Bathinda and Nawanshahr. The lockdown will be effective in Patiala until March 24 and in Bathinda until March 27.

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Patiala Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kumar Amit advised the public against paying heed to rumours, especially those on social media.

The development comes as Punjab’s coronavirus cases rose to 13 on Saturday, with 10 more cases being added in a single day.

Seven people associated with a deceased coronavirus victim in Nawanshahr tested positive. Three people also tested positive in Mohali, taking Mohali’s tally to four.