In view of the fierce COVID surge in Jaipur and other districts of Rajasthan, the state government has sounded for an extension of lockdown-like curbs with a stricter ‘Pandemic Red Alert–Jan Anushashan Pakhwara’ for the next two weeks. Jaipur, Jodhpur and other districts across the desert state will now observe restrictions until 5 PM on May 17, to break the chain of the coronavirus infections effectively. All workplaces, commercial establishments and markets will remain closed during this period, read reports.
Jaipur & other Raj districts under stringent lockdown
The second wave of coronavirus has poked the case positivity ratio to over 21% in Rajasthan, intensifying the pandemic horrors. This further adds a heavy load on the already overwhelmed medical infrastructure each day. Reportedly, about 95% of ICU beds and high dependency beds such as oxygen beds or ventilators, are occupied in the state, This has additionally compelled the government to take strict actions with urgency to control the exponential growth of the fatal infection.
Consequently, the state has issued the following guidelines to contain public movement, in a bid to tackle the virus spread:
- The Epidemic ‘Red Alert – Public Discipline Curfew’ has been enforced across the state from 12 noon to 5 AM every day from Monday to Friday
- If a person is found to be roaming unnecessarily during the curfew, they will be institutionalized until their COVID-RTPCR report is negative
- All types of food items, groceries, cattle feed and so on, will be available. Additionally, wholesale and retail shops selling such products, will be open from 6 AM to 11 AM from Monday to Friday. On the other hand, mandis, fruits and vegetable markets and flower garland shops will open daily from 6 AM to 11 AM.
- Shops and selling places of agricultural exchange vendors will also be allowed to open on Monday and Thursday from 6 AM to 11 AM
- Sale of vegetables and fruits through carts, bicycles, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and mobile vans will be allowed in the range of 6 AM to 5 PM, daily
- Dairy and milk shops will be allowed to open daily from 6 AM to 11 AM and from 5 AM to 7 PM
- Ration shops will remain open without any holiday.
- Shops related to pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical devices will also remain open
- Optical related shops will be open from 6 AM to 11 AM on Tuesday and Friday
- Processed food, sweets, bakery and restaurants, etc. shops cannot be opened
- Only 31 people will be allowed to attend a wedding, instead of the earlier 50. The wedding ceremony can be held as a single programme for a maximum of 3 hours
- The SDM has to be notified about the wedding in advance. Conducting any function without prior notice will attract a fine of 1 lakh rupees
- All industries and construction-related units will be allowed to work. Shops related to construction materials have been permitted to remain open
Meanwhile, a strict mass curfew will be observed from Friday to Monday. This will extend from 12 noon on 7 May to 5 PM on 10 May and likewise from May 14 to May 17.
On Sunday, around 18,298 new cases were reported in Rajasthan where the highest, 4456 infections, were logged in at Jaipur. About 11,262 recoveries and 159 deaths were recorded in the state in the last 24 hours. In Jaipur, recoveries reached the 1490 mark on Sunday while the death toll surged by 34 fatalities.
