Raipur district has been declared a containment zone, clamping curbs on all normal activities starting at 6 pm of April 9 until 6 am of April 19 in view of the rapidly spreading Covid-19, it was announced on Wednesday.

Raipur Collector Dr S. Bharati Dasan said movement will be permitted only for medical emergencies. Medical shops and petrol pumps can function with conditional restrictions.

Addressing the media at the Red Cross Society, he said Raipur's borders will be sealed.

Milk parlours will operate from 6.00 am to 8.00 am and from 5.00 to 6.30 pm. Newspaper delivery will be allowed during the same period. The liquor shops will remain shut, he said.

Petrol pumps will be open only for ambulances, ATM vans, medical vehicles, media personnel and press related vehicles as well as vehicles from other states, passing Raipur.

The airport, railway station and inter-state bus stands will be operational. Autorickshaws and other vehicles will be permitted here but not for normal plying.

Incoming passengers can avail e-pass facility from outside the district and the state.

Three passengers will be allowed in four-wheelers and two each in auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers.

All educational institutions will remain closed but the scheduled examinations will be held. The candidates can be accompanied by a single guardian. The vegetable markets too will be shut.

All Central and state government offices will remain closed except for the Raipur Municipal Corporation's sanitization, water supply, maintenance and health departments besides telecom, airport and railway station maintenance sections.

All religious and tourism centres will be shut. Those going for vaccination and Covid-19 test must show their identity cards. 

Vehicles violating the norms will be seized for 15 days and legal steps will be initiated against culprits, the Collector said.