The decision comes while Punjab is seeing a fast surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, pushing the total count to 132 so far with 11 deaths.
New Delhi: On Friday, the Punjab government declared it would extend the COVID-19 lockdown in the state till May 1.
The government informed that the lockdown has been extended because there are apprehensions of community spread of the novel coronavirus.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting that CM Captain Amarinder Singh chaired through video conference. The lockdown is meant to check community spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly to stop overcrowding at the mandis in the light of the upcoming harvest season.
Punjab has seen a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the last few days, taking the total count to 132 with 11 deaths.
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will convey the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the chief ministers’ virtual conference on tomorrow.
Also Read: “Shut Down Wet Markets Immediately”: US Lawmakers Urge China
“There was general consensus in the medical community that the lockdown curbs would only delay the spread of the disease,” CM Singh said, adding that he hoped there was a cure soon.
The Punjab government also decided to promote students of Classes 5 and 8 to the next class.
The Punjab Govt was the first to enforce a statewide shutdown on March 23, a day before the PM Modi declared the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
