Weekend lockdown in Punjab to continue till Sept 30

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

Amid rising cases of Covid-19, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today announced the government’s decision to continue with restrictions in urban areas, including weekend lockdown in all 167 municipal towns of the state and 9 am-7 pm curfew in all cities till the end of September.

The decision has been taken in due consultation with the Centre, as required by the Unlock 4.0 guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, according to an official spokesperson.

Section 144 of the CrPC banning all social, political, religious gatherings, protests and demonstrations will continue to remain in force throughout the state. The gatherings relating to marriage and funerals shall be allowed only for 30 persons and 20 persons, respectively.

There will be total curfew on Saturdays and Sundays in the municipal towns, while movement of individuals for all non-essential activities shall remain prohibited between 7 pm to 5 am within municipal limits of all cities of Punjab throughout the week.

The movement of students and others in connection with all kinds of examinations, admission/entrance tests conducted by universities, boards, public service commissions and other institutions has been excluded from the restrictions.

Captain Amarinder has directed district authorities to facilitate the movement of such persons.

Religious places have also been allowed to stay open on all days up to 6.30 pm, as have been restaurants (including those in malls) and liquor vends. The restrictions on day/time do not apply to hotels.

The spokesperson made it clear that essential activities and services, movement of persons and goods on national and state highways, inter-state and intra state movement of persons, and unloading of cargo will be permitted.

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