Chandigarh bans gatherings of over 50

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20

The UT Administration took a slew of measures to check the spread of Covid-19 after four more persons tested positive for the virus in the city today. So far, five persons have been tested positive for the disease in the city.

UT Adviser Manoj Parida said all social, cultural, sports, political, religious, academic and family mass gatherings of 50 or more persons had been banned till March 31 with immediate effect. Earlier, it was restricted to 100 persons.

“Residents have been advised to inform the Administration on the helpline number 112 about any individual in the city who has arrived from abroad during the past 15 days so that necessary preventive measures can be taken,” he said.

For the regular supply of food and other items, meetings of officials of the UT, Punjab and Haryana would be convened regularly to take a decision on common issues such as food supply, operations of mandis and transport, he said.

The Adviser clarified that there was no order to close down any commercial shop at present. “There is no intention to close essential commercial shops or commodities, including chemists, grocery stores and mandis. As announced by the Prime Minister, the supply chain will be maintained,” said Parida.

The Municipal Corporation (MC), along with health officials, will ensure complete sanitisation of public places, buildings and other facilities.

The Administration advised the residents of Chandigarh to take all precautions as per the instructions issued by the government from time to time and avoid sharing unverified information on the social media.

After a meeting with representatives of the Chemists Association, it has been decided that the rate of masks (basic level) will be fixed at Rs 10. The sanitisers will be sold on the MRP or below. It was further clarified that sufficient stocks were available and hence people should not panic. An appeal was made to buy only five masks per person.

Based on the appeal by the Prime Minister for a “janata curfew”, the local and long route bus services of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking will remain suspended on Sunday.

In case anybody wants information with respect to Covid, MyGov Corona Helpdesk can be contacted on WhatsApp number 90131 51515, on Central helpline number +91-11-239780462, toll-free number 1075 and on Chandigarh helpline number 112 or 9779558282.

The Adviser has urged residents who have returned from abroad recently or who were in contact with positive cases and are suspecting symptoms/infections that they should not come to the hospital straight away. They should call on the helpline number 112. A dedicated team would go and check them at their place and, if necessary, shift them to the hospital.

Besides, doctors would be sent to areas on the periphery for attending non-carona routine cases.

For daily wagers, who have lost income due to Covid and need food, the Administration will distribute packed cooked food through Red Cross and Annapurna vans at subsidised rates. This will be done since bhandaras/langars are closed.

Health team to visit homes of those with symptoms

Those who have returned from abroad recently or who were in contact with positive cases and are suspecting symptoms should not come to the hospital straight away.

They should call on the helpline number 112. A dedicated team will go, check them at their place and, if necessary, shift them to the hospital.