Chandigarh: As Covid-19 cases continue to rise rapidly across the country, including in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered stricter restrictions, including extension of night curfew timings (8 pm to 5 am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres, sports complexes, with restaurants and hotels to be open only for takeaway and home delivery from Monday to Saturday.
Rates for RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) by private labs have been reduced to Rs 450 and Rs 300 respectively (with additional charges for home collection of the samples), in a bid to promote increased testing. Gatherings of more than 20 persons, including for weddings/cremations, have also been banned across the state. 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 wherever needed. All weekly markets have also been ordered to be shut down.
The chief minister also ordered that all people flying into Punjab should have a negative RT-PCR not more than 72 hours old, else they would have to undergo RAT testing at the airport. He also ordered that people who have attended large gatherings anywhere (religious/ political/social) to be mandatorily home quarantined for five days and tested as per protocol.
The chief minister directed the transport department that number of people in buses, taxis and autos be restricted to 50 per cent 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 be vaccinated.
The chief minister ordered postponement of the recruitment exams for Patwaris and directed the Medical Education Department to hold online examination for 1st, 2nd & 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 of masks and avoiding gatherings.
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 per cent beds for Covid patients. 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.
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.
