Punjab has over 36,000 confirmed COVID-19 instances up to now, together with over 900 deaths (File)
Chandigarh:
The Punjab authorities has ordered a day by day evening curfew – from 7 PM to five AM, beginning Friday – and a weekend lockdown in all 167 cities and cities within the state, as a part of a strict response to the worrying surge in coronavirus instances.
The emergency measures, which will likely be in place until August 31, embrace restrictions on private and non-private transport and a ban on public gatherings (besides weddings and funerals), and shutting of 50 per cent of retailers promoting non-essential items within the 5 worst-affected districts.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, making the announcement on Thursday, referred to as for “war-like preparedness” to cope with the spike in coronavirus instances.
“Sufficient is sufficient. We must be robust with out affecting the state’s economic system,” the Chief Minister mentioned at this time, including that every of the 920 Covid-linked deaths within the state “pains me”.
“The projections for the approaching weeks are grim,” he mentioned, asserting the state was in an “emergency well being scenario that necessitated harsh measures”.
The Chief Minister additionally directed the police to make sure the ban on political protests and gathering is adopted, and requested his personal celebration – the Congress – to self-enforce the ban strictly.
As a part of the measures introduced this night, authorities and personal workplaces will operate at 50 per cent power; authorities workplaces have additionally been inspired to scale back the variety of guests.
Buses and public transport will run at 50 per cent capability and personal vehicles will need to have not more than three passengers per car.
Punjab has over 36,000 confirmed Covid instances up to now, of which greater than 900 are deaths linked to the virus and over 12,000 are lively instances. On Wednesday the state reported 24 deaths and 1,693 new instances.
The announcement of measures to try to cease any additional unfold of the Covid virus in Punjab got here on the heels of a serological survey of 5 districts – Amritsar, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Patiala and Jalandhar.
Carried out between August 1 and 17, the survey revealed that 27.7 per cent of individuals in containment zones in these districts have been uncovered to the virus.
Amritsar was the district with highest prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies, with 40 per cent of inhabitants in containment zones testing constructive. Ludhiana had 35.6 per cent and SAS Nagar 33.2 per cent, whereas Patiala and Jalandhar had 19.2 per cent and 10.eight per cent, respectively.
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