BREAKING:
PUNJAB CABINET @capt_amarinder UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES EXTENSION OF PUNJAB CURFEW/ LOCKDOWN till 30 April, 2020/ 1st May, 2020.
Extension by 21 days from today. Strict enforcement.
Punjab to extend lockdown till May 1: CM Amarinder Singh
After Odisha, Punjab became the second state Friday to extend the 21-day lockdown till May 1 to contain the spread of coronavirus. In a video conference with cabinet ministers today, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, “Prediction by experts about spread of the virus are horrendous and frightening.” He added that the government is preparing itself and gearing up for such a situation.
This development comes two days after the Centre said it was mulling over the extension of the nationwide lockdown beyond April 14, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he would hold another round of discussions with the chief ministers on April 11 before taking a final decision.
Punjab, so far, has recorded 11 Covid-linked deaths and 137 cases, as per the latest data provided by the Health Ministry. In the last 24 hours, 21 fresh coronavirus cases have been reported.
KBS Sidhu, IAS, Spl. Chief Secretary, Punjab.@kbssidhu1961
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Keeping in mind the present harvesting season, Singh said Punjab will allow district-wise relief from the lockdown only to farmers to allow them harvesting of Rabi crop. He said Punjab was expecting a bumper crop of 185 lakh tonnes of wheat and is making arrangements for harvest of the crop.
Grain Market in Sector 26, Chandigarh being sanitised. (Express photo: Kamleshwar Singh)
Quoting a PGIMER study by Department of Community Medicine, Singh said, “….COVID19 epidemic in India is estimated to reach its peak in mid-September 2020 at a point where 58 per cent of population would be infected.” Citing the study, he added, the virus can infect up to 87 per cent of population of Punjab and other states.
“The only good thing about coronavirus is that the drugs supply line has been broken,” he added.
Citing the grim projections about the spread of the pandemic in the coming weeks, the Chief Minister said the curfew restrictions were essential so that the medical infrastructure is not burdened beyond its capabilities. There was general consensus in the medical community that the lockdown curbs would only delay the spread of the disease, he said, hoping that some medication/cure would be found soon.
Punjab Government health wing workers sanitise residential colonies in Mohali. (Express Photo: Jasbir Malhi)
On a proposal by the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers also decided to set up a multi-disciplinary task force to formulate an exit strategy for gradual relaxation of lockdown. The task force will submit its report within 10 days. The task force will comprise about 15 members representing trade, business, industry, agriculture, civil society and health care professionals. The Chief Minister has been authorized to decide on the composition of the task force.
The Cabinet also resolved that it would urge the Centre to establish an Advance Center of Virology in Punjab with an anticipated investment of Rs 500 crore, with the state government to offer land free of cost for the project.
Responding to a question on community transmission, Singh said there have been some cases of community transmission in Punjab as there are 27 positive cases from among the Tablighi Jamaat congregation attendees in Delhi’s Nizamuddin last month.
Meanwhile, India reported 6,412 cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including 503 patients who have been treated and discharged and 199 deaths.
(With PTI inputs)
