CURFEW CLAMPED IN PUNJAB
No relaxations: Capt; medical emergency services, military and govt officials on duty exempted; domestic flights grounded across India
CHANDIGARH/ NEW DELHI: Punjab and Maharashtra declared statewide curfews as the number of cases of Covid-19, which has killed at least 16,000 around the world, rose to 471 in India. The central government said it was grounding all domestic flights from Wednesday to keep the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) from spreading.
Thirteen more states and Union territories, including Haryana, Gujarat, Assam and Manipur, announced a complete lockdown on Monday, taking the total number to 28. Some states that announced a partial lockdown on Sunday upgraded their response, ordering complete lockdowns and curfews, increasing the curbs on residents. Almost 75% of India’s population is covered by the lockdowns.
The case count has doubled in just three days, triggering concerns that transmission of the pathogen was entering the dangerous community spread phase, when keeping tabs on the source of infections becomes challenging.
A day after putting Punjab under lockdown, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said: “The government was forced to take this extreme step (curfew) in the interest of people of the state. Violation of the lockdown is unacceptable and it is my responsibility as the state head to save Punjab.”
“The deputy commissioners (DCs) have been asked to issue orders accordingly. Any person required to be given relaxation will be so allowed specifically for given period and purpose,” the chief minister tweeted.
The orders came even Amarinder Singh announced a slew of relief measures to support the affected people. These included free food, shelter and medicines for those in need, with Rs 20 crore sanctioned out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the epidemic and the DCs asked to extend all assistance to those in need.
The chief minister has also announced deferment of payment of electricity, sewerage and water bills in the state.
While the central government has expanded the scope of testing for the disease, private labs are still to begin collecting samples, possibly leaving out some suspects.
The government needs to cast a wide net to find signs of the disease in the country, experts insist, failing which Covid-19 could eventually shock the health care infrastructure.
On Monday, a 57-year-old man from West Bengal died at a hospital after testing positive for the disease, which first originated in China’s Wuhan late last year. He did not have any travel history and officials could not immediately establish any contact with an infected individual, two criteria that don’t fit the testing guidelines of the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR).
As cases increased, the civil aviation ministry said it was suspending all domestic flight operations, except cargo services, from 12am on March 25 to 11.59pm on March 31. “Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 11.59pm on March 24,” the ministry announced.
“The central government is satisfied that a large part of India is threatened by the outbreak of Covid-19, which has resulted in a large number of casualties around the world...,” an official statement said. “[We consider] that the movement of persons within the country by flights carrying a large number persons together will aid and assist the spread,” it added.
About 80 affected districts have already been completely locked down and all passenger trains, interstate buses and Metro rail services, including in Delhi, suspended till March 31.
A complete lockdown refers to all districts in a state being under a lockdown, whereas a partial lockdown means that only a certain number of districts have been put under restrictions. Essential services, however, are allowed to run in all areas.
Maharashtra, which has reported the most Covid-19 cases at 74, ordered a statewide curfew from Tuesday to ensure people stayed indoors. “Despite multiple requests, people are not following rules. This compelled the government to impose the curfew,” chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the lockdown were enforced. “Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed,” he tweeted.
The Centre has issued directions to state governments, asking them to take legal action against those found violating the lockdown.
“States have been asked to strictly enforce the lockdown in the areas where it has been announced,” a government statement read.
Some other states further tightened the curbs on residents.
Chhattisgarh, which was on partial lockdown, ordered the suspension of public and private buses, auto and e-rickshaws and taxis on Monday.