Punjab imposes night curfew; all educational institutions closed, High Court switches to virtual mode

Taking a serious view of the rise in Covid cases, Punjab government on Tuesday clamped night curfew across the state from 10 pm to 5 am with immediate effect. The restrictions will continue till January 15.

All educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities, coaching institutions, etc, shall remain closed till further orders. However, medical and nursing colleges will continue to function normally. Educational institutions, however, have been advised to maintain the academic schedule through online teaching.

All bars, cinemas halls, multiplexes, malls, restaurants, spas, museums, zoos, and other public places will operate at 50 per cent of their capacity subject to all staff present being fully vaccinated.

All sports complexes, stadia, swimming pools, gyms shall remain closed. The spectators or visitors will not be allowed to these places.

The government also has allowed the AC buses to run at 50 per cent of capacity.

In all state government offices "No mask, No service" policy has been implemented and only fully vaccinated staff will be allowed to attend the government as well as private offices, working spaces, factories, industries, a notification issued by the state government said.

The decision was taken by the Congress led Punjab government after over 100 doctors and MBBS students of Government Rajindra Hospital and Medical College, Patiala, were tested positive for the virus on Monday. Swinging into action the government has vacated the hostels of the medical college.

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi has called an emergency meeting of his cabinet colleagues to review the situation and asked all the Deputy Commissioner and district police heads to keep a watch and inform senior government functionaries on the latest developments.

Meanwhile, apprehending the third wave of COVID propelled by the Omicron variant, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also ordered virtual mode of hearing cases.

An order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court made it clear that the decision was taken following a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The orders issued by the Haryana State Disaster Management Authority and by the office of Adviser to the UT Administrator in this regard were also taken into consideration. The entire exercise was aimed at ensuring the safety of judges, advocates, staff and litigants.