Punjab clamps curfew on Sundays till April 30; CM urges Centre to rush vaccines as situation critical

Hours after the Delhi government imposed a complete curfew for six days from Monday midnight, the Punjab government clamped a curfew across the state on every Sunday till April 30.

Taking a serious note of the worsening Covid situation in the region, curfew was also imposed in the Tri-City which includes Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur and Panchkula, on Wednesday.

Moreover, all government and private hospitals have been asked to keep 75 per cent beds reserved for Covid patients to meet any eventuality.

As Covid cases continue to rise rapidly across the country, including in Punjab, Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered other restrictions beginning tomorrow, including extension of night curfew timings (8 pm to 5 am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres and sports complexes. Restaurants and hotels can remain open only for takeaway and home delivery from Monday to Saturday.

Gatherings of more than 20 persons, including for weddings/cremations, have also been banned across the state, with prior approval of the district administration needed for all gatherings of more than 10 persons, except for cremation.

The new restrictions, which also include closure of all malls, shops and markets on Sunday, coupled with the ones imposed earlier, will remain in effect till April 30, announced the Chief Minister, directing the police department to strictly enforce the restrictions, taking support of civil society organisations where needed. All weekly markets have also been ordered to be shut down.

Chairing a high-level virtual meeting to review the Covid situation in the state, the chief minister also ordered that all people flying into Punjab should have a negative RT-PCR not more than 72 hours old, or else they would have to undergo RAT at the airport.

He also ordered that people who have attended large gatherings anywhere (religious/ political/social) be mandatorily home quarantined for 5 days and tested as per protocol.

The Chief Minister directed the transport department that the number of people in buses/taxis and autos be restricted to 50% of the capacity.

In a bid to check inbound travellers, the Chief Minister also directed that Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) booths should be set up at bus stands and railway stations and all passengers checked. All eligible persons should be also vaccinated.

The Chief Minister also ordered postponement of the recruitment exams for Patwaris and directed the Medical Education department to hold online examinations for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year MBBS / BDS /BAMS and 1st year Nursing students.

The Chief Minister reiterated his appeal to all religious, social and political leaders to desist from organising large gatherings, encourage vaccination and motivate people for Covid appropriate behaviour, especially wearing masks and avoiding gatherings.

Guardians of Governance and all ex-servicemen have been urged to take the lead in ensuring adherence to protocols.

He further said that military hospitals in the cantonments in Punjab had assured the state government of all possible help to tackle the surge, while private hospitals had already been directed to reserve 75% beds for Covid patients.

While reviewing the situation in private and government hospitals, the Chief Minister directed 75% reservation of L-3 facilities for Covid in all private hospitals providing critical Covid care. He said that no elective surgeries should be conducted in any government or private hospitals till May 15 and all OPD patients must be tested, besides encouraging them to get vaccinated.

The 104 Helpline shall function 24X7 to provide information on bed availability in government and private hospitals. Oxygen requirement and availability will be strictly monitored and ensured for both government and private hospitals by a committee comprising PSIC, Direction Industry and MD, PHSC, while private hospitals will be supported in supply of essential medicines such as Remdesivir, Tocilizumab etc, for which MD, PHSC shall be the nodal officer. All elective surgeries in medical colleges also stand postponed for now.

The containment/micro-containment strategy was left to the DCs to decide, depending on the situation in their respective zones or areas.

The Chief Minister ordered ramp-up of tracing, and directed recruitment of manpower if needed, to handle the emergency.

Health Minister Balbir Sidhu informed the meeting that DCs have been given Rs 1 crore each from SDRF for emergency use.

In another development, Capt. Amarinder Singh on Monday urged the Union government to send immediate supplies of vaccines and also give quick approval for two new oxygen plants in the state amid concerns over depleting stocks of both.

On the availability of vaccines, the Chief Secretary told the Chief Minister that the situation was critical, with only three days of stocks left, but the Central Government has assured that more would be coming soon.

Medical Education Minister OP Soni cited shortage of oxygen supply in Amritsar hospital, while Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan said though Indian Oil Limited (OIL) was providing the state with supplies, the situation was a matter of concern. A close watch was being kept on the demand-supply situation at both government and private hospitals, she said.

A committee has been formed by the state government under Principal Secretary, Industries, to monitor the situation and coordinate with the Centre in this regard, said Vini Mahajan.

Health Secretary Hussan Lal said that three plants had been operationalised since the last surge, and two plants at Medical Colleges Amritsar and Patiala were awaiting the Centre’s approval. While there was shortage currently, supplies were being diverted from one district to another to meet the requirements.

The meeting was informed that vaccination appeared to be having a positive effect in the police department, with only one vaccinated personnel testing positive in the past 24 hours, and a total of only 397 positive cases among those who have been immunised.

The Chief Minister directed all departments to make all efforts to maximise vaccination among the eligible population. He also urged large industries to take responsibility for getting their employees vaccinated.