Abohar, March 22

Despite being a neglected lot, the anganwadi workers were the first one to accept the challenge of bringing about awareness about Covid among women.

Despite non-availability of masks and sanitisers due to lack of state government’s preparedness, the workers were found knocking on the doors in Abohar to educate women about the deadly virus and the precautions they can take to keep the disease at bay. Not only did they provide five vital tips to safeguard themselves from the virus, but also gave a demonstration on they should wash their hands regularly. With the help of banners, which they had prepared, they tried to sensitise people on the enormity of the situation and the steps they should take to minimise its spread.

In Sriganganagar, the role of Accredited Social Health Activists, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as part of the National Rural Health Mission, was also adjudged commendable. Equipped with masks and sanitisers, they had so far conducted surveys in about 40,000 houses to prepare a record of people who needed basic medical guidance to protect themselves from the virus. — OC

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

As Covid threat has engulfed the globe, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has directed all Sikh organisations and gurdwara management committees to extend a helping hand in this hour of need, irrespective of any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and race.

Giani Harpreet Singh has called on all gurdwara managements to prepare quarantine wards in the sarais (inns) to meet any emergent situation, arrange langar (food), medical aid and other things as per the situation arising in their respective territories.

Sparing a thought for the Indian students studying abroad who are stuck due to disruption of flights, he emphasised that ‘Guru ghar’ funds could be utilised to accommodate them as per their requirements.

He said for the welfare of all, everyone should observe self-quarantine and follow the advisory issued by the governments and health departments of their respective countries. He cautioned that under the Sikh principles, there could be no space for misconceptions and false notions, as was being circulated on social media.

“Abiding by the Sikh philosophy and keeping faith, every devotee confined in their homes should recite the Gurbani Path and pray for ‘Sarbat da bhalla’ before Akal Purakh. Everyone should refrain from rumours and fallacy. Covid-19 has affected the whole mankind and claimed many lives in various countries”, he said.

Follow govt orders on coronavirus restrictions, says Akal Takht Jathedar

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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.

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

New Delhi, March 22

The country’s paramilitary forces comprising 10 lakh personnel have ordered immediate suspension of movement of troops for any kind of travel, including leave or routine work, and directed them to ‘’be where they are’’ till April 5 to check Covid-19 outbreak in their ranks, officials said on Sunday.

The forces have also asked all jawans and officers to fill a declaration form to state that none of their family members have travelled to any foreign destination in the recent past and in case someone has, they need to be tested or put into isolation on a case-to-case basis.

Officials said the direction has been issued by the headquarters of the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, Sashastra Seema Bal and National Security Guard to ensure prevention of a mass outbreak of the pandemic in these forces that are the “backbone” of country’s internal security. — PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

Delhi today joined the list of cities across the country to announce lockdown to check the rapid spread of Covid-19 as it prohibited inter-state travel from neighbouring districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh with which it shares the border.

Drawing a lesson from the manner in which countries such as Italy, Iran and China, where it spread swiftly, or nations where early lockdown resulted in preventing the spread, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced lockdown from 6 am on Monday till March 31.

Flanked by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at a press conference this evening, the Chief Minister said if the city government did not take tough steps and if the numbers of affected leapt to thousands, the health infrastructure would not be able to deal with it.

The government ordered closure of public transport, including taxis, private buses, auto-rickshaws, while allowing plying of Delhi Transport Corporation buses at 25 per cent strength to cater to the requirement of those on exemption list.

Besides closure of all religious places, the government ordered shutting of private institution or enterprise, while directing payment of salary/wages for the period to employees, permanent or contractual.

Those exempt include police, fire, law and order agencies, hospitals, medical services, magisterial services, stores selling food, milk, groceries, vegetables, service providers such as electricity, water, sanitation, telecom, posts, media, home delivery services by e-commerce platforms, etc.

Restaurants will be allowed to cater to takeaway or delivery services, while construction activity will be banned during the period. The order prohibiting assembly of five or more persons will remain in force.

As for reports of black market/hoarding of masks and sanitisers, the CM said while those indulging in such activities were not only doing an illegal act but also working against humanity in this hour of grave crisis.

The city government, he said, had so far conducted 327 raids and taken action against 437 individuals.

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 22

Amid tremendous success of the ongoing people’s curfew to battle an evolving COVID-19 pandemic in India, the government on Sunday ordered the lockdown of 75 districts where positive cases of the deadly virus have so far been confirmed.

Also read: Follow govt orders on coronavirus restrictions, says Akal Takht Jathedar

The decision was taken at a high level review meeting held by Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Guaba and Principal Secretary to the PM with the chief secretaries of all states.

All chief secretaries informed the top Central officials that the call of “Janata Curfew” given by PM Narendra Modi had received an overwhelming and spontaneous response.

Also read: Punjab orders state-wide shutdown till March 31 to check spread of coronavirus

“It was agreed that there is an urgent need to extend restrictions on non-essential passenger transport, including inter-state passenger buses, till March 31. Following detailed discussions, the state governments were asked to issue appropriate orders; only essential services to operate in 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties due to COVID-19,” a statement from the Cabinet Secretary said.

The Centre has also asked states to expand and deepen the lockdown in districts depending on their own assessment of the situation.

Also read: Coronavirus: India observes Janata curfew, millions stay indoors

Several states have already issued orders in this regard, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, and West Bengal.

The meeting took the following decisions: all train services suspended till March 31, except goods trains. All suburban rail services also suspended; all metro services suspended till March 31, but states will issue orders to allow emergency metro services in 75 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths; inter-state passenger transport to be suspended till March 31.

The lockdown will extend to 75 affected districts immediately, even as people stay home voluntarily responding to the PM’s call to break the chain of transmission of the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, in a significant tweet on Sunday Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said some anti-social elements were using social media to ask people to come out of the houses after 9 pm claiming that the virus threat would be over.

Vardhan said social distancing would be needed for many weeks going forward to battle the growing disease.

“Some anti-social elements are spreading misinformation that after today’s #JantaCurfew ends, the deadly virus will be wished away. They’re exhorting people to come outdoors after 9pm.

“This is false and an attempt to mislead the public. Social distancing must be adopted as a habit,” Vardhan warned people.

Medical experts have been asking the government to go in for a complete lockdown to prevent community transmission of the COVID-19 disease, which is currently restricted to imported cases and their contacts in India.

China has already achieved flattening the transmission curve but through a legally enforced crackdown.

Indian lockdown is a voluntary effort which began with “Janata Curfew” today.

Congress veteran P Chidambaram on Sunday said he was observing the people’s curfew called by PM Narendra Modi strictly.

In a tweet, former minister said, “As desired by the PM, I am observing Janata Curfew strictly.”

The following is the list of districts put under a lockdown:

Tribune News Service
Amritsar/Bathinda, March 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Janata curfew’ to prevent coronavirus spread evoked a good response on Sunday in Punjab.

Most of the towns and cities 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 Congress-ruled Punjab’s Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda and other places.

With state-run roadways shutting their services, buses were off the roads in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

However, the supply of milk was normal.

In Punjab, all establishments in Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur districts have been closed while the partial lockdown has been ordered in Jalandhar from 7 a.m. on March 22 up to midnight of March 25 by the government.

Likewise, it has also been advised to close down establishments in the Kapurthala district from March 23 as precautionary measures.

Factories engaged in production of essential items like flour mills, cattle feed, food processing and pharmaceuticals would not be closed by enforcing staggering of workers and other preventive safeguards.

Barely any devotees at Golden Temple

The footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple fell drastically as they observed the curfew. The SGPC had already announced its support for the shutdown.

Only a few staff members have been asked to continue working at the historic gurdwara and others have been granted leave.

The heritage street, leading to the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh, wore a deserted look.

ISBT looked abandoned as buses services have been suspended.

All markets and commercial spaces were closed in the city. Most people abstained from moving out of their houses.

Barring the arrival of two long-distance trains, no train movement took place at the Amritsar Railway station.

The gates of the Durgiana Temple were also closed due to the curfew.

However, daily wagers and small vendors are already facing the heat of the shutdowns as their income came to a nought.

Hari Krishan Sahu, a daily wager, said he was unable to earn any money from the past four days.

A youth from Naushehra Dhalla village said he did not receive any job calls for past one week as traders told him that transactions came to a halt due to fears over coronavirus.

They demanded compensation from the government to support them and their families.

Complete shutdown in Bathinda

Almost all markets in the district witnessed a deserted look with shops and business establishments closed.

With all the buses and train services suspended, both the railway station and the bus stand wore a deserted look, while officials sanitized railway stations, trains and buses.

The residents kept indoors as a precautionary measure and all the major markets Dhobi Bazaar, Post office Bazaar, Sirki Bazaar, Amrik Singh road and others remained closed. Even some medicine and grocery shops remained closed on Sunday in the city.