E-pass a must to venture out on weekends in Punjab
CHANDIGARH : Amid apprehensions of community spread of Covid-19 and projections indicating that the pandemic peak in Punjab was two months away, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered stricter lockdown on the weekends and public holidays, with movement to be restricted to e-passes holders.
“All citizens, except medical staff and essential service providers, will be required to download e-passes from the COVA app,” Amarinder directed at a video conference meeting to review the pandemic situation and the state’s preparedness to handle the further spread. Industry will be allowed to function normally on all days, though. The CM’s directions came even as the doubling rate in the state worsened from 22 on May 31 to 15 on June 10, showing a progressive decline day by day.
Directing director general of police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to ensure strict implementation of these directives to prevent gathering of large crowds, the CM said such tough measures were necessitated on account of the spiralling Covid-19 cases across the world. He said stringent curbs could help delay the peak for as long as possible.
The CM also asked medical and health experts to consider imposition of strict conditions, including mandatory testing certification, for entrants from Delhi, where the situation had assumed alarming proportions.
On an average, 500-800 vehicles are coming to Punjab from the national capital every day, the DGP informed the meeting.
A decision on stricter curbs on those coming from Delhi will be taken after a review by the experts, an official spokesperson said after the meeting.
Pointing out that many of those who had come from outside had behaved irresponsibly and had not reported to the health authorities, Amarinder said tough measures would have to be taken where needed, as the spike was still continuing and was expected to escalate in the days ahead.
ALL CITIZENS, EXCEPT MEDICAL STAFF AND ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, NEED TO DOWNLOAD E-PASSES FROM COVA APP: CM