Lucknow's major markets shut down to curtail COVID spread, city records 5,433 cases on Wednesday

With accentuated effects of the second COVID wave, Lucknow sits on the periphery of an impending community spread recording 5,183 new infections in the past 24 hours. Amongst a list of measures being deployed to curtail the spread of the virus, the leading traders associations in the city have declared that the central markets would remain closed for a period of 4 to 5 days from today onwards. Only retailers dealing in necessities like groceries and medicines will be allowed to function.

Aminabad closed till April 22, Hazratganj to open after April 18

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As per the announcements, Aminabad will be closed till April 22 while Hazratganj has been shut for a stretch of four days till April 18. In addition to this, Sarafa Bazaar and Indira Nagar's Bhootnath Market will not function till April 17.

Declarations in this regard were made by Hazratganj Traders Association, Aminabad Merchant Association, Janpath Market Vyapar Mandal, Chowk Vyapar Mandal and Naka Vyapar Mandal. Amarnath Mishra, senior general secretary of Lucknow Vyapar Mandal has requested all traders and shop owners' groups to initiate steps for checking the spread of COVID-19.

Worrying experiences of the trades leads to this decision

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"We have collectively decided to close shops for sanitisation," said general secretary of LVM Pawan Manocha. In an unfortunate series of events, all members of his family got diagnosed with the virus while two of them succumbed to it. Vinod Punjabi, secretary of Hazratganj Traders Association was quoted saying, "We have introduced the home delivery-on-call facility for urgent needs of the people. We will review the situation on April 18 to decide whether to continue the closure."

31,687 active cases in Lucknow pressurise the city's medical resources

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As per reports, 3,000 individuals required hospitalisation on Wednesday, out of which 2,000 were needed critical care urgently. While the authorities are trying to amplify medical facilities in the city, the burgeoning count cases make it a difficult situation. On Wednesday, the cumulative count of COVID-affected individuals soared to 1,22,118 and 13 fatalities were recorded.