Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 22
With number of coronavirus patients reaching 21 in the state, the state government on Sunday ordered a lockdown till March 31 as an emergency measure to prevent the spread of Covid.
You can play the most vital role in preventing further transmission of the disease by not stepping out.—Capt Amarinder Singh, CM
However, the essential services will be exempted from the shutdown which will be effective from Monday at 6 am and will remain in force till 9 pm of March 31, a government statement said.
In an official notification, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh ordered shutdown of all establishments to break the transmission chain of the highly contagious virus.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh warned of tougher restrictions to check the spread of the deadly infection.
On Sunday, Punjab reported seven more Covid cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 21, officials said.
The Chief Minister appealed to people to avoid leaving their homes unless there is an acute emergency and asked everyone to follow all health safeguards. “You can play the most vital role in preventing further transmission of the disease by not stepping out,” he appealed to people.
The Chief Secretary said there would be no curfew during the lockdown period, but restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC would remain imposed, preventing gathering of more than 10 persons at any given time.
Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said extra forces would be deployed in all districts for strict implementation of restrictions.
A government official said only essential services such as the police, health, power, emergency transport, and shops selling milk, food items and medicines, will remain open. Besides, eggs, poultry feed, media, e-commerce and essential IT services have been brought under the category of essential items and services.
CM hails corporates
- Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has appreciated the decision of Rajinder Gupta, Chairman, Trident Group, to close down his unit and offer full wages, housing and food to his employees during the lockdown
- He appealed to other industrialists in the state to follow Gupta’s example. The Sonalika Tractors management also announced to follow the suit
The restrictions…
- All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops and godowns will remain closed
- Any public gathering of more than 10 persons prohibited
- All inter-state commercial transport closed
- Home quarantine for those who returned from abroad on or after March 9