SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL } SAD CHIEF

Govt extends weeklong lockdown till June 24; reimposes complete weekend lockdown from June 19 noon; state records 151 new cases on Monday

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RANCHI: The state government on Tuesday announced to reopen all kinds of shops, malls, departmental stores, government and private offices till 4pm from Thursday across all 24 districts, officials said.

While extending the health protection week , or Swasthya Suraksha Saptah, by another week June 24 morning, the government has also decided to reimpose the complete weekend lockdown from 4pm of June 19 till June 21 morning. The current weeklong lockdown ends on Thursday at 6am.

During the weekend lockdown, all shops, including fruits, vegetable, grocery and sweets, will remain closed during the said hours.

However, medical emergency shops, medical equipment related shops, petrol pumps, LPG outlets and milk stores will remain open. In the last such weekend lockdown, milk stores were not allowed to operate.

The decisions were taken at a state disaster management authority’s(SDMA) Covid-19 review meeting chaired by chief minister Hemant Soren at state project building on Tuesday.

The state recorded 151 new cases and one Covid-19 death in a day till Monday night. The Covid-19 case tally now stands at 3,43,609.

Last week, all kinds of shops, including salons, were permitted to reopen in all districts, excluding East Singhbhum. Garment, cloth, footwear, cosmetic and jewellery shops were not allowed to reopen in East Singhbhum in view of surge in Covid-19 cases.

However, the district will now enjoy the same relaxations provided to other districts, officials said.

Government and private offices have been permitted to open with 50% working strength of human resources till 4pm.

However, multiplexes, cinema halls, banquet halls, bars, clubs, stadium, gymnasium, swimming pools and parks will remain closed, according to the government order.

All educational institutions, including schools, colleges, IT, skill development, coaching institutions and training institutions, will also remain closed. The provision of e-pass will remain in place for interdistrict and interstate movement.

The restriction on bus movement will also continue.

Lockdown-like restrictions have been in place in Jharkhand since April 22 this year.