New Delhi (NVI): Lockdown restrictions and night curfews are back at several places in India as the country battles the second of coronavirus pandemic that has claimed 1,67,642 lives so far. The overall tally has now climbed to 13,060,542, according to the Union Health Ministry.
Several States and Union Territories have decided to impose strict curbs in the form of lockdown, weekend lockdown and night curfews to combat the sudden surge of Covid cases on a daily basis.
Pertinent to mention here that India has recorded 1,31,968 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, the biggest-ever daily surge the country has witnessed so far.
Eight states– Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat– account for 84.44 per cent of the new deaths related to coronavirus, according to the Health Ministry.
Here are the places where restrictions like lockdown and night curfew have been imposed across the country:
- Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the worst-affected state in the country, reported 56,286 new coronavirus cases yesterday, which took its overall caseload to 32,29,547. To tackle the surge in daily Covid cases in the state, the Maharashtra government has has imposed both weekend lockdown and a night curfew on weekdays. The night curfew in the state will be in effect from 8 pm to 7 am, while the weekend lockdown will be in force from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday.
- Delhi
Night curfew has been imposed in the National Capital from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30, in the wake of rapid transmission of cases across the country. As per the new rules, private doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are exempted from the night curfew. Apart from that, passengers going to airports, railway stations, and bus stations have also been exempted from the rule but have to produce a valid ticket. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also advised commuters, who do not fall under the essential category, to complete their journey before 10 pm in view of the night curfew.
- Punjab
The Punjab government has also decided to impose night curfew, besides other restrictions till month-end as the state continues to witness a spike in coronavirus cases. The night curfew in Punjab will remain in place from 9pm to 5am daily across the entire state. Earlier, night curfew was imposed in only 12 districts in the state.
- Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh government has imposed lockdown for weekends without a particular timeline to contain the chain of transmission in the state. As per the new rules, there will be a lockdown in all urban areas in the entire state from 6 pm today till 6 am on Monday.
5. Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu government yesterday announced some restrictions, including banning temple events and religious congregations starting April 10. As per the new rules, all religious places in the state will be strictly permitted to 8pm only. Restaurants, food courts and teashops will be permitted to operate till 11pm, but with 50 per cent seating capacity.
6. Gujarat
The Gujarat government has announced night curfew in 20 cities and towns in the state till April 30. The step was taken after the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday proposed imposing a lockdown for three to four days in the state to control the spread of the virus. The state has also banned political or social gatherings till April 30.
7. Odisha
Odisha has imposed night curfew in 10 districts in the wake of recent spike in fresh Covid cases. The curfew will be in place from 10 pm to 5 am in Sundergarh, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts.
8. Rajasthan
The night curfew will remain in force in Rajasthan from 8 pm to 6 am. Dining at restaurants and hotels during the curfew hours has been prohibited while home delivery of food has been allowed. Rajasthan government has also ordered the closure of multiplexes, gymnasiums besides suspending classes 1 to 9 at schools till April 19.
-ARK
