Bihar records 1st death; announces lockdown

Bihar has been placed under complete lockdown from Sunday, March 22 to March 31. The announcement was made by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after analysing the threat to the state emerging from the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement which was released by his office on Sunday, Mr Kumar said that the lockdown is being enforced in all districts, sub-divisional and block headquarters and municipal towns till March 31. He also urged people to extend their support in the fight against the deadly virus.

“Bihar is being placed under lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state. During this period all private establishments, offices, and public transport will remain suspended,” he said in the statement.

The government has, however, exempted all essential services which include healthcare, medicine shops, general provision stores, banking sector and media.

Earlier on Sunday, the state administration held an emergency meeting after Bihar recorded its first death due to coronavirus. According to the Bihar health department, a person named Saif Ali with a travel history to Qatar died at AIIMS, Patna, where he was being treated for critical kidney ailments.

According to Bihar Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar, “The test report reached the hospital a day after he succumbed to the infection. The state government is taking all necessary precautions to deal with the situation.”

Doctors at Rajendra Memorial Research Institute (RMRI), Patna, where coronavirus tests are conducted, said that

114 samples were examined on Saturday, out of which two cases were found positive for Covid19.

The other Covid-19 positive person has been admitted to a hospital in Patna. Meanwhile, screening at railway stations has also been stepped up and passengers coming from other states are being monitored.

To deal with the rising coronavirus threat, isolation wards have been set up in all medical colleges and hospitals across the state.

As a precautionary measure, the state government had earlier cancelled all major events including the Bihar Divas Programme which was to be observed on March 22. Apart from this, all educational institutions, parks, zoos and cinema halls have also been shut down till March 31.

“Concerned officials have been asked to track all details about persons who have tested positive,” principal health secretary Sanjay Kumar said.