Punjab to enforce stricter lockdown over weekends, holidays after cases spike

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11

Amid apprehensions of community spread of COVID-19 and projections indicating that the pandemic peak in the state was still two months away, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Thursday, ordered stricter lockdown on the weekends and public holidays, with movement to be restricted to e-passes holders.

All citizens, except medical staff and essential service providers, will be required to download e-passes from the COVA app, the Chief Minister directed during a video-conference meeting to review the pandemic situation and the state’s preparedness to handle further spread, a press release by the state government said.

The industry, however, will be allowed to function normally on all days, said the Chief Minister, while asking DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure strict implementation of these directives to prevent the gathering of large crowds.

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said such tough measures were necessitated on account of the spiralling COVID cases across the world. Stringent curbs could help delay the peak for as long as possible, he added, pointing out that with no early vaccine or treatment in sight, strict protocols were the only way to fight the pandemic.

Even as he warned of the pandemic worsening in the coming days and weeks, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also asked medical and health experts to consider the imposition of strict conditions, including mandatory testing certification, for entrants from Delhi, where the situation had assumed alarming proportions.

On an average, 500 to 800 vehicles are coming to Punjab from the national capital every day, the DGP informed the meeting.


A decision on stricter curbs on those coming from Delhi would be taken after a review by the experts, an official spokesperson said after the meeting.

Pointing out that many of those, who had come from outside, had behaved irresponsibly and did not report to the health authorities, the Chief Minister said tough measures would have to be taken where needed, as the spike was still continuing and was expected to escalate in the days ahead.

The Chief Minister suggested that since it normally took three to four days for the virus to show up, those coming from outside should be tested after a week and in the meantime, they should be strictly asked for home-quarantine themselves. He also directed the DGP to ensure strict implementation of the home-quarantine.

The DGP disclosed that 550 flying squads of the Punjab Police were enforcing the same.

Referring to complaints received on social media, and through other channels, of private hospitals charging exorbitant sums for COVID hospitalisation and care, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh directed the Health Department to ensure strict application of the CGHS rates. All data on the availability of beds etc should be put in the public domain, he added.

The Chief Minister’s directions came even as the doubling rate in the state worsened from 22 on May 31 to 15 on June 10, showing a progressive decline day by day. Though significantly longer than the national average, the doubling period decline was a matter of anxiety, said the Chief Minister.

Expressing concern over the large number of people coming from outside the state, even though the positive cases among them were not many, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said there was no scope for complacency in the state’s battle against COVID-19. The state government’s efforts would need to be scaled up further, particularly in view of the Health Department’s projections suggesting that the peak of the pandemic had yet to hit Punjab, and it could happen towards the end of August if the doubling period continues to come down as per the current trend.

Acting tough, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on Thursday, stressed the need to fine people for not wearing masks and not observing precautions against Covid-19.

“I feel sad that we need to fine our people for not wearing masks & not observing other precautions against #Covid19,” he informed in a tweet.

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“(The) government alone cannot win the fight against #Covid19 & I seek support of all. Don’t take any flu-like symptom lightly and see your doctor immediately.”

A Rs 500 penalty is imposed in the state for not wearing a mask in public places, while a Rs 2,000 penalty for violating the home quarantine instructions. For spitting in public places, the fine is Rs 500.

For non-payment of fine by the violator, it is attracting legal action under Section 188 of the IPC as per regulations framed under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897.

— With inputs from IANS