Punjab shuts schools, colleges
Chandigarh, March 19
Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in Punjab, CM Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered a slew of restrictions beginning Saturday which include closure of all educational institutions till month-end and curbs on cinema halls and malls. The Punjab School Education Board has postponed Class V and VIII examinations, which were to commence from March 22.
Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said even the ongoing examination of all non-Board classes in government schools had been put off till March 31. “A new datesheet will be announced after reviewing the Covid situation by March 31,” he said.
IKG Punjab Technical University and Guru Nanak Dev University have also announced postponement of all ongoing examination.
Fresh restrictions on gatherings till march 31
- Occupancy in cinema halls capped at 50%, 100 persons in malls
- Not more than 10 visitors be entertained in homes
- Procurement now from April 10
For 11 worst-hit dists…
- Ban on social, political events
- In funerals and weddings, only 20 persons allowed
- Cinemas, restaurants, malls to remain closed on Sundays
In the 11 worst-hit districts, a complete ban has been ordered on all social gatherings, except for funerals and weddings, which will be allowed with only 20 persons in attendance. This will be enforced from Sunday.
These districts are Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, SAS Nagar, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Moga. In these districts, which will remain under night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am, cinemas, multiplexes, restaurants, malls etc., will remain shut on Sundays. Industries and essential services shall be allowed to function.
Jab not for all
It is not scientifically necessary to vaccinate all… Priority groups to be revised soon. —Harsh Vardhan, Health Minister
Though other districts will not be placed under such stringent restrictions for now, the CM ordered immediate reinforcement and strict monitoring of the strategy of micro-containment and containment zones. The situation will be reviewed after two weeks, said the CM, chairing a meeting of the Covid task force officials. Dr KK Talwar, who heads the government’s expert team on Covid, said the surge appeared to be the result of opening of schools and colleges, with young asymptomatic people appearing to be spreading the virus. “There is no evidence as of now to show that the spike is due to the mutants,” he added.— TNS
40K fresh cases
India reported 39,726 new cases in 24 hours. It was on November 29, 2020, that India last saw 41,810 fresh infections.
4,11,55,978 doses given
