Seven districts of Haryana lock downed; 6600 persons under surveillance in the state

Seven districts of Haryana lock downed; 6600 persons under surveillance in the state

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh

To prevent the spread of the novel Corona Virus (COVID-19), the Haryana government has decided a lockdown in the territorial jurisdiction of revenue districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Panchkula from March 22, 2020 starting from 9 pm to March 31, 2020.

Giving information in this regard, a spokesperson of the Haryana Health and Family Welfare Department said that orders have been issued regarding the lockdown. He said that COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Haryana has two International Airports in vicinity i.e. IGI Airport, New Delhi and Chandigarh International Airport and there are more than 6,600 persons under surveillance in the state. Thus, it is imperative to adopt strict social distancing and measures of isolation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which is playing havoc in many countries across the world.

He said that in these seven districts, no public transport services, including operation of taxis, auto-rickshaws will be allowed from Sunday i.e. from March 22, 2020 to March 31, 2020. Only transport of all kinds to and from hospitals,airports, railway stations, bus terminals/bus stands and for the purpose of essential services will be allowed.

All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops, godowns, etc. shall close their operations.

The spokesperson said that all foreign returnees are directed to remain under strict home quarantine for a period as decided by the local health authorities. People are required to stay at home and come out only for basic services while strictly following social distancing guidelines issued earlier.

However, the following establishments providing essential services shall be excluded from the above restrictions.The government offices/ establishments as per the instructions of Chief Secretary Office. Rail (Rail services already suspended till March 31, 2020) and air and local Administration will regulate eateries in these premises. Apart from aboverestrictions in these districts, all interstate bus services shall remain suspended in the whole state. The spokesperson said that the private establishments that support the above services or are linked to the efforts for containment of COVID-l9 will remain open. Any congregation of more than five (5) persons shall be prohibited in public places’. The transport plan shall be prepared by the concerned Deputy Commissioner for the services of essential commodities/services.

All Deputy Commissioner shall establish a control room in each district of state Haryana for the COVID-l9 outbreak. If there is any doubt as to whether a service is essential or not, the Collector and District Magistrate shall be the competent authority to decide. In case, any order issued earlier which is in contradiction to this order then these orders shall prevail.

The spokesperson said that the Police Commissioner, Collector/ DM, ADM, DCP, SDM, Tehsildar/NaibTehsildar, B.D.P.O, Municipal Commissioner / Executive Officer/ Secretary of Urban LocalBodies,SHO are hereby authorized to take all the necessary actions for enforcement and implementation of the aforesaid measures. The local police shall render necessary assistance as and when requisitioned by the aforementioned officers. The spokesperson also said that any person found violating the containment measures shall be deemed to have committed  an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). The restrictions imposed earlier shall continue to be in force in rest of the state.

March,22,2020