In the 11 worst-hit districts, all social activities except funerals, cremations and weddings have been prohibited. In permitted social gatherings only 20 persons are allowed. These districts are Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Mohali, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Moga.
For now, the stringent measures will only be applicable on the worst-hit districts. However, if people fail to follow Covid-19 protocol and the situation worsens, the government may impose strict curbs in other districts as well, chief minister Amrinder Singh warned at a review meeting of Covid task force with top officials.
The Punjab government also announced that the cinema halls will operate at 50% capacity and not more than 100 persons will be allowed in a mall at any time.
The situation will be reviewed after two weeks, said the chief minister, chairing a meeting of the COVID Task Force with top officials.
This will be enforced from Sunday. In these districts, which will remain under night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am, the Chief Minister has ordered cinemas, multiplexes, restaurants, malls etc to remain closed on Sundays, though home deliveries will be allowed, subject to the night curfew.
Industries and essential services shall be allowed to function, but barring these, all restrictions shall be strictly enforced, the Chief Minister directed the top civic and police officials in these districts.
Directing health officials to ramp up testing per day to 35,000, the Chief Minister said the special focus should be on super spreaders, and Government employees, teachers in educational institutions, etc. must be tested routinely. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) testing should be stepped up along with RTPCR testing, he ordered, while directing contact tracing and contact testing to be taken up to 30 per positive person. The CPTOs must personally monitor this task, he said.
The Chief Minister also directed the Department of Medical Education & Research to immediately complete recruitment of specialists/super-specialists.
The names of the Covid Monitors, who are appointed at every establishment and office should be available with the District Administration, along with their numbers, said the Chief Minister.
Punjab Schools & Colleges To Be Closed Till March 31 Amid Spike In COVID-19 Cases.
K K Talwar, who heads the state government’s expert team on Covid, said the surge in cases appeared to be the result of opening of schools and colleges, with young asymptomatic people apparently spreading the virus.
