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55-hour weekend curfew clamped in Chandigarh
Decision taken on the day record 481 Covid-19 cases were reported; UT adviser Manoj Parida says will help break the chain of infection
The Chandigarh administration imposed weekend curfew in the city on Friday amid a record spike in Covid-19 cases.
As many as 481 people have tested positive in the past 24 hours, which is the biggest single-day spike that surpassed 449 cases registered during the first wave on September 13.
The curfew will remain in force for 55 hours, from 10pm on Friday till 5am on Monday. Except for some exemptions, all public movement has been prohibited. While the night curfew from 10pm to 5am will continue thereon, the administration has also introduced other restrictions that will stay in force till April 30 (see box).
The decision was taken in the Covid-19 review meeting chaired by UT administrator on Friday.
Also read: Chandigarh traders oppose weekend curfew
The order issued by UT adviser Manoj Parida under the Disaster Management Act states: “The residents must stay indoors during the lockdown period. Only essential activities will be allowed.”
“No person shall leave their homes or shall move on foot or by vehicle or travel or stand or roam around on any road or public places during the lockdown period,” states the order issued by deputy commissioner Mandip Singh Brar under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Parida said the decision has been taken to restrict the spread of infection in “avoidable travel or gatherings” during weekends. “We will see if we can break the chain,” he said.
Any breach of the order will invite action under Sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code along with other appropriate laws.
Only home delivery allowed
All essential commodity shops and restaurants will be allowed to remain open during the weekend curfew. However, only home delivery will be allowed. These include shops and vendors dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetable, dairy, meat, animal fodder, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
For the home delivery staff, their identity card will suffice for movement, said Brar.
All private offices will remain closed, and only industries manufacturing essential products, such as masks, sanitisers and medicines, can operate during the weekend.
Those specially issued a restricted movement curfew pass are also exempted. Brar said the movement pass can be availed on the official website of the administration: http://admser.chd.nic.in/dpc. Officials are also available on 0172-2700076 and 0172-2700341.
As far as the people commuting from other parts of the tricity are concerned, Parida said: “Curfew is valid for the capital city. For essential travel to the city from Panchkula and Mohali, commuters will have to satisfy the police authorities about their purpose of visit to be allowed entry.”
Meanwhile, Sampark Centres will remain closed during the weekend curfew. All online services will be available on www.sampark.chd.nic.and esampark mobile app.
Sharp increase in cases
The administration had imposed curfew in the city soon after the outbreak in March last year. However, along with the rest of India, it started easing the restrictions from May onwards. While the weekend lockdown was lifted on August 28, restrictions of gatherings were done way with on January 30 this year.
A sharp rise in Covid-19 cases has prompted it to impose fresh restrictions. Just 16 days into April, the city has recorded 5,979 cases and 29 deaths, up from 5,229 and 27, respectively, recorded throughout March.
Also, 70% of the 60 Covid-19 samples sent by the PGIMER for genome sequencing in March have turned positive for the UK variant of COVID- 19. One of the samples was also found to have double mutation.
The administration had earlier announced weekend closure of Sukhna Lake and indefinite shutdown of Rock Garden on Tuesday. Even night curfew was extended from 10pm to 5am, instead of 10:30pm to 5am.
Education dept postpones exams
After the announcement of the weekend curfew, the education department postponed all exams scheduled on Saturday.
Class 9 students are still left with their Hindi exam while the biology exam of Class11 is pending. According to the order issued by UT education secretary SS Gill, even teachers will get an off on Saturday.
The order also stated that any student from a containment zone or who gets quarantined or tests positive can appear for the exams later. Meanwhile, public libraries and coaching centres will remain closed till April 30, though online coaching is allowed.
Earlier, during the meeting, Badnore expressed serious concern over the rising number of Covid-19 cases and the high fatality being observed.
All patients presently under home quarantine must be regularly contacted and provided with necessary assistance, he said. Helpline numbers for such patients are: 0172-2752038, 2634074, 2738087, 9646121642, 9779558282 and 7087577447.
Badnore also directed all three medical institutes to ramp up their facilities to accommodate the increasing number of Covid-19 patients, and said the hospital at Sector 48 should be made fully functional. The administrator also stressed on increased testing at crowded places and enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour in markets and other public places.
