Punjab extends lockdown till May 1

CM to convey decision to Modi today

11/04/2020, SPECIAL
CORRESPONDENT,CHANDIGARH

Punjab on Friday extended the lockdown till May 1 amid apprehension of community spread of COVID-19.

On Thursday, Odisha extended the lockdown till April 30.

A meeting of the State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, also decided to prevent overcrowding at bazaars during the wheat harvesting and procurement season.

Capt. Amarinder will convey the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s video-conference with the Chief Ministers on Saturday, an official statement said.

Grim projectins

Citing grim projections of the impact of the pandemic, the Chief Minister said curfew-like restrictions were essential so that the medical infrastructure was not burdened. “There was general consensus in the medical community that the lockdown curbs would only delay the spread of the disease,” he said.

Role of private hospitals

At the meeting, the Cabinet approved the Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance to make private hospitals join the battle against COVID-19. The Chief Minister was authorised to approve the final draft of the Bill.

The ordinance would provide for the registration and regulation of clinical establishments in a professional manner to ensure compliance of clinical standards and protocols and transparency in their functioning for fair and proper delivery of health services to the common man, said the statement.