With the city recording more than 600 Covid-19 positive cases in July, the Chandigarh Administration on Friday decided to impose fresh restrictions including closing Sukhna Lake on weekends, re-introducing odd-even system in congested markets and continuing with the imposition of night curfew to stem the spread of virus.
The Covid-19 cases tally reached 1051 in Chandigarh on Friday with 608 cases reported in the month of July.
A day before, the positive cases had crossed 1000-mark in the city while on July 29, the union territory had reported its biggest single-day spike with 44 cases.
While the Central Government has lifted night curfew under unlock 3.0 phase, the Administration on Friday decided to continue with the imposition of night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am in the city. It has also been decided that yoga institutions and gymnasium will be allowed to open only from August 5 after Standard Operating Procedure is issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
These among other decisions regarding fresh restrictions were taken at the meeting held by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore here.
The decisions were taken in view of violations of safety protocol by citizens and people gathering in large numbers at Sukhna Lake and markets ignoring social distancing norms.
“Sukhna Lake will remain closed on weekends. Entry of all visitors will remain banned on Saturdays and Sundays,” stated an order issued by Manoj Parida, Adviser to UT Administrator.
“The curfew period from 10 pm to 5 am will continue in the city,” the order stated
“Odd-even system in certain specified congested markets will be re-introduced from time to time as per the recommendations of the Committee headed by the UT Finance Secretary. Also, all markets will close by 8 pm except for the eating establishments, which can remain open till 9 pm. However, the exemption to essential shops such as medicine shops etc will continue,” it stated adding that the order will come into force with immediate effect.
The odd-even stipulations for shops which had been put in place on May 18 in congested markets were lifted on July 1 by the Administration. These markets included Sector 46 Rehri market, Sector 22 Shastri mark
et, Sector 15 Patel Market, Sec 41 Krishna Market, Sec 19 Sadar Bazar and Palika Bazar, Sec 18 Gandhi Market, Sec 27 Janta Market and street vendors in various sectors of the city.
While cases are surging on a daily basis, the effort to flatten the curve is becoming a tough task for the authorities concerned.
In the month of July, the COVID-19 has spread its tentacles to new localities in the city with cases reported from Sectors like 20, 42, 44, 45, 51, 55, 63 among other areas.
During Friday’s meeting, the UT Administrator directed the senior officers that all efforts should be made to detect COVID-19 infected persons early, so that timely treatment could be given. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to take the help of volunteers, resident welfare associations to detect such cases.
He also directed Sanjay Baniwal, Director General of Police to enforce greater strictness in monitoring visitors from outside, who could be carriers of COVID-19.
It was informed that keeping in view the increase in number of cases, three new micro-containment zones are under consideration.
Under the micro-containment zone policy, it is proposed that three-five houses will be demarcated as micro-containment zones from where a high number of positive cases are being reported.
The perimeter control is proposed to remain in place for 14 days starting from the last positive case detected in such zones.
It was further informed that the drive against non-wearing of masks has been intensified. Over 8,000 challans have been issued and nearly Rs 45 lakh have been recovered from the violators in the city.
