Shutdown in Punjab till March 31; essential services exempted
kanwar Inder /royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab government has issued orders for shutdown of all non-essential services and businesses with immediate effect till March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with in Punjab state.
The government has exempted only essential services as they will be allowed to function. All Deputy Commissioners and SSPs have been directed to issue relevant orders and implement the restrictions immediately.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has issued a list of the essential commodities as per the provisions in the Essential Commodities Act 1955 as applicable in the state of Punjab include five items groups food grains, edible oils, vegetables and other items. Further added essential commodities are masks and hand sanitiser. Apart from these, in view of COVID-19 pandemic these services have been declared as essential services including supply of groceries, beverages, fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking water, fodder, all food processing units supplying processed food items, dispensing of petrol, diesel, CNG at designated petrol/diesel/CNG pumps/dispensing units, Rice shellers milling the paddy, Milk plants, dairy units, fodder making units and cattle fields, supply of LPG (domestic & commercial), medicines and other pharmaceuticals from medical stores, Health services, manufacturing of medical and health equipments, telecom operators and the agencies appointed by them to ensure communication services, insurance companies, Banks and ATMs, Post Offices, loading and unloading of wheat and rice for receipt in godowns and/ or dispatch against Central pool/DCP/OMSS, Transportation of essential commodities/essential service and stock articles required for procurement and storage of food grains, movement of harvesting combines, harvesting operations, agriculture implements making units and any other item as deemed essential and so declared by the District Magistrate/District Commissioner.
Also showing deep concern over all the Positive cases in Punjab are linked with foreign travel or infected by those who have recently travelled abroad, the Chief Secretary emphasised on the need of Home Quarantine to be strictly enforced, which is the key to containment of COVID-19 as the GoI has mandated quarantine for all foreign travellers w.e.f. 16 March. Likewise, lists of all foreign travellers to be re-verified for home quarantine. He also Asked the District Administration to check hotels, lodges, etc proactively and enforce quarantine wherever necessary. For those who came before mandatory quarantine, health teams must daily check on their health status and enforce quarantine/ isolation if required. All cases, including missing cases, to be re-checked on war footing. Sticker outside the homes of those quarantined should be pasted tonight positively for the information to the neighbours. Intimation by Sarpanch/ Nambardar/ Ward Councillor/ Chowkidar etc to proactively inform nearest Police Station/Chowki about such travellers and to ensure strict home quarantine – not furnishing information may be punishable.
March,22,2020
