No weekend lockdown, but exercise caution

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that lockdown should be the last resort to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, the UT Administration has decided not to impose a weekend lockdown in the city. The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore here today.

Thanks to the Government of India, we are getting one lakh doses of vaccine for Chandigarh on April 24. — Manoj Parida, UT Adviser

Estate Office, RLA shut for week

The Estate Office, the Sub-Registrar’s Office and the RLA office, where many employees were infected, will remain shut till April 30.

Exempted, industrialists thank UT

We thank the Administration for exempting industries. It has allowed the units, which run night shifts, as long as workers do not go out and follow SOPs. — Naveen Manglani, President, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries

Lake closed on weekend

• Sukhna Lake will remain closed on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
• The museums, libraries and spa will continue to remain closed

“No weekend lockdown in Chandigarh, only night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am on all days,” said UT Adviser Manoj Parida after the meeting. However, no gathering or non-essential travel would be allowed in the city during the night curfew.

While reviewing the overall Covid situation, the Administrator expressed serious concern about the increasing number of cases. He directed MC Commissioner KK Yadav and Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar to intensify testing and contact tracing so as to ensure patients medical treatment in time.

Badnore reviewed the status of availability of oxygen in all medical institutions and expressed satisfaction that due to commissioning of oxygen plant, there was no shortage of oxygen in the city. He directed the Health Department to monitor the availability of life-saving drugs in the city and ensure that such medicines were not sold on the black market.

The Administrator directed the Inspector General of Prisons to organise a special camp for testing and vaccination of all eligible inmates in the Burail Jail.

Keeping in view the risk of spread of infection in hostels, the Administration has directed all educational institutions to allow students to stay only if unavoidable. The heads of institutions must ensure that the inmates were properly tested and verified.

The industry is allowed to run night shifts, provided the Covid protocol is followed on the premises. However, the management will be responsible for any violation of the Covid protocol.

The Administrator specifically directed the police authorities to focus on crowded areas like markets, malls, railway stations, ISBT, etc, where the Covid protocol needs to be strictly followed. Intensify patrolling in the city and challan all violators, he directed.

The Administrator appealed to the public representatives, municipal councillors, market associations and resident welfare associations to persuade people to wear a mask and get inoculated against the disease. He announced that any organiser can request for a special vaccination camp in their area by submitting a list of at least 100 beneficiaries to the Principal Secretary, Health, UT.

“We are thankful to the UT Administration for exempting the industries from lockdown. It has allowed the industrial units, which run night shifts, as long as workers do not venture out of the factory premises during the curfew timings and follow the SOPs. All industrial units have been advised to follow Covid protocol,” said Naveen Manglani, president, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries