Inter-state borders will also be closed

Andhra Pradesh has decided that it would remain locked down till March 31, in a bid to prevent further spread and to contain the Coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic.

Announcing this here on Sunday, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appealed to people to remain indoors till end of this month as social distancing was best available remedy to make the country virusfree.

This comes in welcome contrast with his earlier public pronouncement during his government confrontation with the State Election Commission, when CM Mr Reddy maintained that the Covid-19 was in an early stage in the state and would pose no risk to conducting local body polls.

Elaborating on the shutdown of the state, the Chief Minister further announced that inter-state borders would be shut, all public and private transportation would be suspended and only essential establishments like hospitals, medical shops, grocery stores, and petrol pumps would operate.

Supply of all essential commodities, including LPG cylinders, would continue, Mr Reddy assured.

The SSC examinations will however be held as per schedule and so was the case with the budget session of the Assembly.

Coming to rescue of the poor and daily wage earners who would be the first and worst affected by the shutdown, CM Reddy decided to extend a cash incentive of `1,000 for each household of poor towards compensation for loss of wages during the lockdown.

The amount would be handed over to these families by volunteers on April 4. Besides, each poor household would be provided with one kilo of red gram, along with free ration, which would will reach their doorstep on March 29, he said.

“I know this is not sufficient but we are trying to extend help to extent possible. These additional measures will cost the exchequer `1,500 crore,” CM Reddy said, adding that the lockdown was painful but inevitable.

“We are following remaining states to bring a synergy to country-wide efforts on this front,” he said.

Mr Reddy gave a stern warning to traders against exploiting the crisis by enhancing prices of commodities. District collectors and SPs would release item-wise price list and it would be their responsibility to ensure traders sell at those prices.

A toll-free number would be advertised for people to lodge complaints of hoarding or excess pricing. “I will not hesitate to send such traders behind bars,” he said. Maintaining that the government had already issued orders to operate its office with 50 per cent workforce at a time, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy appealed to all commercial establishments and factories to operate with skeletal staff.