HARYANA EXTENDS LOCKDOWN TILL MAY 24; CURBS IN PUNJAB TO STAY TILL MONTH-END

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Sunday extended the lockdown till May 24 while the Punjab government announced that all restrictions will stay in place till May 31 amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, officials and ministers from both the states said.

In Haryana, the lockdown was extended for the second time by a week. It came into force on May 3 and was later extended from May 10 till May 17. “Mahamari Alert / Surkshit Haryana extended from 17 May to 24 May. Stringent measures will be taken to implement the alert (lockdown),” home and health minister Anil Vij announced on Twitter.

While the government urged all citizens to remain indoors, several categories of people, including those tasked with the maintenance of law and order, emergency and municipal services and the government machinery engaged in anti-covid duties, have been exempted from the lockdown restrictions.

In Punjab, the government extended the restrictions till May 31 amid a high positivity and fatality rate.

Chief minister Amarinder Singh gave directions for strict enforcement of all the curbs. Singh said deputy commissioners will continue to determine the opening of shops in a staggered manner and enforce other restrictions to check the spread of the virus.

They can also make suitable amendments based on local conditions as long as these do not dilute the state’s overall restrictions, the chief minister said in an official statement here.