Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 22

The Chandigarh Administration on Sunday issued orders to impose restrictions in the city till March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

All ‘non-essential establishments’, including offices, schools, colleges, factories and other business establishments in the city will remain closed till March 31. All public transport has also been suspended.

However, essential services including vegetable shops, ration shops, chemists etc shall remain open.

Also read: Coronavirus: Chandigarh observes ‘Janata Curfew’, all main markets shut; story in pictures

Manoj Parida.IAS@ManojPa47203819

 

All ration shops,groceries,vegetable shops,chemists,petrol pump,banks,hospitals,police,power,water supply facilities open.restaurants open for take away food.people can go out individually when needed.borders not sealed

 A statement issued by the UT administration said: “The detailed orders in this regard will be shared shortly. People are advised not to believe in rumors and take all preventive steps as being communicated from time to time. All are also advised to stay indoors and not to come out unless there is urgency.”

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The Punjab Chief Minister on Sunday issued orders for shutdown of all non-essential services and businesses with effect from Monday 6 am 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.

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

The government has not called it a “curfew”, but a “lockdown”. 

As of now, private transport would be allowed in emergency circumstances, besides essential services. The government is working out the details as well as mode of enforcement to be implemented from 6 am on Monday. (This story will be updated when more clarity is available)

An IANS report said the Chief Minister has announced a relief of Rs 3,000 to each registered construction worker in the state. The money would be transferred to their bank accounts by March 23 in a bid to mitigate the hardships being faced by them.

A sum of Rs 96 crore would be released for this purpose. The Labour Department has been directed by the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to ensure the transfer.

The Chief Minister while appreciating the decision of Rajinder Gupta, Chairman Trident Group, to close down his unit and offer full wages, housing and food to his employees during closure, has appealed to other Industrialists in the state to do the same and set an example for the nation.

The following is text extracted from the government order detailing the restrictions till March 31:

1.   All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops, godowns etc. shall close their operations.

2.   No public transport services including operation of taxis/ auto- rickshaws etc. shall be permitted excepttransport of all kinds to and from hospitals, airports, railway stations, bus terminals/ bus stands. Specific routes to be allowed in the districts shall be decided by respective DCs.

3.   Strict home quarantine shall be observed by all foreign returnees (who landed in India on or after 09.03.2020) and their contacts/ other persons at risk as decided by the District Administration.

4.   All such foreign returnees shall also mandatorily contact the District Administration (104/112) and register themselves for home quarantine (as far as possible the COVA Punjab Mobile App)– failing which they shall be liable for legal action.

5.   People are required to stay at home and come out only for essential services and that too one member of a family at a time and strictly following social distancing guidelines issued earlier.

6.   Any gathering of more than 10 persons in public places shall be prohibited.

7.   All inter-state commercial transport shall be closed.

However, these restrictions shall not be applicable on the following essential services:

1.   All the essential commodities and services as defined under the Order No. IFD (1455)-2020/855 of Department of Food and Civil Supplies of 21.03.2020 and their manufacturing,supply chains, required transport andother logistics to ensure their availability.

2.   Public Offices (including officials and employees) tasked withemergency, law and order and essential functions:

a.   DC/SDM/Tehsil & offices subordinate to them

b.   Police.

c.    Health

d.   Urban local bodies

e.   Fire

f.     Defence Establishments and Central Police/ Paramilitary Organizations including NDRF

g.   Any other office as may be notified by the respective DC

3.   Rail & Air Transport

4.   Local Transport (to be regulated by respective DCs)

5.   Electricity, Water and Municipal Services

6.   Banks and ATMs

7.   Print and Electronic Media including social media

8.   Telecom/ Internet and Cableoperators and agencies appointed by them to maintain communication and internet services

9.   Postal services

10.  E-Commerce and its home delivery

11.  Shops of Food, Groceries, Milk, Bread, Fruit, Vegetable, Meat, Fish etc.(including departmental stores and supermarkets)

12.  Fair Price Shops under PDS

13.  Restaurants/ eateries fortake-away or home delivery only (no dine-in shall be permitted)

14.  Hospitals, Chemists including Optical stores and Pharmaceuticals manufacturing

15.  Petrol pumps, LPG gas, Oil agencies, their godowns etc

16.  Production and Manufacturing Units which require continuous process may continue to function, after obtaining permission from respective DC

17.  Other private establishments that support the above services. Any doubt as to whether an establishment is covered under this clause shall be decided by the respective DC.

Further, provided that restrictions/ exclusions as per local requirements may be made within by the respective DCs within the district.

These orders are to be meticulously complied and violations shall be dealt with severely under relevant provision of the IPC.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

The impact of Janata curfe to combat the spread of Covid-19 witnessed a record decline in the footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple.

In normal days, the shrine sees a footfall of nearly 1 lakh people daily from all over the globe. SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said less than 500 devotees paid obeisance at the shrine. Consequently, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Langar Hall catered to around 100 devotees.

He said the devotees should refrain from coming out of their houses as a precautionary measure. “We request all to stay indoors as per the advisory of the Health Department and government. The live telecast of Gurbani kirtan from the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine will continue,” he said. Sources said a majority of those who got stuck in the holy city due to disruption of rail and bus services had no option but to go to the shrine’s kitchen to partake of langar.

Meanwhile, dedicated teams of the SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital and local Health Department were present for the thermo-screening of every devotee visiting the shrine. This was followed by sprinkling of sanitisers on their hands before they entered the shrine.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the threat, the SGPC mulled postponing its annual budget 2020-2021 meeting scheduled for March 28 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall. Technically, the budget session is to be held before March 31 every year.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

As the government enforces a lockdown in the districts that have reported Covid-infected cases in their respective jurisdictions, the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces have been placed on standby for assisting the civil administration in cases of any exigency.

According to sources, while there has been no formal requisition of defence forces or paramilitray forces in this regard so far, these forces could be deployed if the need so arises.

“We have placed earmarked formations on the alert which would be moved to assist the civil authorities if called for,” an officer said. “This could be for reinforcing the local police for maintaining law and order, positioning additional medical teams and quarantine facilities, crowd control, providing emergency evacuation of patients or provisioning essential commodities in remote areas,” he added.

An officer, however, clarified that placing defence and home ministry forces on standby did not mean that the situation would get out of hand. “Such actions are standard procedures so that no time is lost if any emergency situation is to be dealt with,” he said. “We regularly liaise with local civilian authorities as well as carry out mock drills in this regard,” he added.

Sources point out that since localities where confirmed coronavirus cases are detected have to be sealed and people prevented from moving around, the manpower requirement for enforcing such directives is huge. In addition to dealing with the fallout of coronavirus, regular law enforcement and security duties also have to be undertaken.

Security in some areas has also been stepped up as essential services are not to be disrupted. The IAF is also on standby to airlift personnel or essential supplies, sources said. Since railway and public transport services have also been suspended, the forces could assist the civil population in emergency movement.

The Armed Forces and paramilitary organisations are already running quarantine camps for travellers who are returning from abroad. They have also issued extensive guideline to in their rank and file for measure to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

The militaries of many countries affected by Covid are actively engaged in combating the pandemic in their respective countries.

New Delhi, March 22

With the Centre deciding to put 82 districts on lockdown, almost all modes of public transport have been put on hold till March 31.

The Indian Railways has cancelled all passenger services. Also, Metro services in the country have been asked to shut down. The Railways had already curtailed its services on Friday, cancelling a number of trains. Only goods trains will run up to March 31 midnight to ensure uninterrupted supplies, an official order said.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

India on Sunday responded overwhelmingly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for people’s curfew to battle the growing Covid-19 pandemic, encouraging the government to order an unprecedented lockdown in an attempt to break the chain of viral transmission.

While Janata Curfew was underway, the Centre asked states to shut down all non-essential services in districts with a Covid confirmed case or death. By Sunday evening, the number of such districts was 82.

Punjab, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Bihar ordered lockdowns until March 31, saying only essential services (medical, groceries, dairy items, fruits, vegetables, petrol pumps) would be available.

The move towards near pan-India lockdown (23 states now have confirmed Covid cases) came on a day when India saw three more deaths (one each in Mumbai, Patna and Surat) due to the disease, taking the toll to seven and the cases surged to 396 in the highest 24-hour rise so far.

The decision to extend the voluntary Janata Curfew into a shutdown was taken to ensure social distancing between people which, according to experts, is the only way to flatten the growing curve of virus transmission. So far, the cases in India only involve people with travel history abroad or their direct contacts.

The executive actions the Centre and states took today to quarantine most of the nation are primarily aimed at halting the virus from transmitting into the community or to reduce its impact.

The lockdown decisions were taken today at a high-level meeting Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba and PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM, held with state Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries. The meeting agreed to suspend all non-essential passenger transport till March 31, including inter-state buses.

“The state governments were asked to issue appropriate orders; only essential services to operate in all districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties due to Covid-19,” a government statement said, adding that the states could expand the lockdown depending on their assessment of the situation on the ground.

Starting midnight Sunday to March 31 midnight, all trains will remain suspended except the goods trains. All suburban rail and metro services, including Delhi Metro, will not operate. The Centre said states could issue orders to allow emergency metro services in the districts with confirmed Covid cases.

The day also saw citizens coming out in large numbers across the country to thank corona warriors by clapping, ringing cymbals, clanging utensils to honour the call given by PM Modi to express gratitude to India’s first line of defence against a dreaded virus.

The PM’s mother Heeraben also joined the national thanksgiving by clanging a utensil today. The PM later tweeted, “Mother, your participation in this effort will inspire lakhs of warriors like doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, paramedics, police personnel and mediapersons in this fight against the pandemic. It will give them the strength to carry on.”

Modi thanked everyone for the successful self-isolation today: “Janata Curfew may end at 9 pm today but that does not mean we begin celebrations. This is the start of a prolonged battle. Today Indians have shown they are capable and with their resolve they can defeat the gravest of challenges.”

The PM also asked people not to venture out of their homes in the districts where curfew had been clamped and even otherwise stay home until absolutely necessary to venture out.

The West Bengal government has requested the railway ministry to stop all trains from entering the state till March 31 to shield the state from any potential carriers of Covid-19 from outside.

The state also put a ban on interstate bus movement to contain the outbreak of the disease on Saturday.

“Considering the emergent situation developing due to spread of Novel Coronavirus, you are requested to ensure that no trains from outside the state of West Bengal enter West Bengal from midnight of March 22, onwards till March 31,” said a letter written by the chief secretary Rajiva Sinha.

The letter tagged as ‘most urgent and immediate’ was sent to the chairman of the railway board on Saturday. The state has already imposed stringent restrictions on public gatherings and crowding in the state

The Indian Railways has already stopped a few thousand trains on March 22 in an attempt to ensure that people follow the ‘Janta Curfew’ announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The railways announced on Saturday that 12 passengers who travelled on its network in the last 7-8 days have tested positive for the disease triggering concern about possible community transmission.

The national transporter has also announced the cancellation of several trains and cut down on the frequency of a few others in the wake of the disease.

Till Saturday three persons have tested positive of coronavirus in Bengal and around 21,000 people have been kept under surveillance in homes and hospitals

: A young male tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday morning taking the count of confirmed cases in the city to six, officials said.

The number of positive cases in the Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula have spiked to 11 in 5 days.

According to the Union Territory Administration, the man is the secondary contact of the 23-year-old-female who returned from England on March 15 and tested positive for coronavirus on March 18. The area of residence of the latest person to test positive has not been confirmed by the authorities.

The fresh case was admitted Chandigarh’s Government Medical College and Hospital on Saturday and his samples were tested at the city’s Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

Track coronavirus live updates here,

Earlier, the brother, mother and cook of the first positive case tested positive for coronavirus followed by a 38-year-old woman who worked at a beauty salon who came in contact with Chandigarh’s first coronavirus case.

All these four positive cases were from Mohal. But no fresh case has been reported from Mohali.

Also read: Covid-19: How it will change the world

“Reports of three persons who were suspected to be infected are negative. Reports of three other persons are awaited which can only be confirmed by evening,” Mohali Civil Surgeon Manjit Singh said.

Several roads are deserted, Metro stations closed in Delhi and public places shut down as the country is observing Janta Curfew which began at 7 am on Sunday. The curfew is being observed to break the chain of transmission of coronavirus disease Covid-19 that has killed four people so far and infected more than 300 in the country.

The voluntary curfew will last till 9 pm.

In Chennai, authorities have put up boards outside the Marina Beach announcing its closure. There is also adequate police presence in the area. “There is a restriction on a large gathering of people. So, we are organising the praying session via YouTube so they don’t need to come to the church for the holy mass,” said George Anthony Swamy, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore.

From Ludhiana in Punjab to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, roads are empty and shops closed. Metro stations in Delhi also wear a deserted look. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had announced that its services will be closed on Sunday, when the country observes Janta Curfew.