As a measure to impede the spread of coronavirus infection in the state, Jharkhand has announced a week-long lockdown which begins today i.e. April 22.
The decision was taken a couple of days back, on April 19 in a high-level meeting that was convened at Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren’s official residence in Ranchi.
The lockdown week is being marked as ‘Swasthya Surakhsa Saptah’ (health safety week) in which all businesses except those providing essential services will be suspended.
“It is of utmost importance that we break the chain of Covid-19 infection. Jharkhand is a poor state and our priority is to save lives and livelihoods…Everybody should abide by Swashtya Surakhsa Saptah…with this we will be successful in breaking the COVID-19 chain,” CM Soren had said in a video address.
Also Read: Explained: What’s allowed, what’s not in curfew-like restrictions in Maharashtra
Jharkhand’s COVID19 death toll soared to 1,547 after 45 more people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, news agency PTI reported. Also, 4,969 fresh cases raised the total number of cases in the state to 172,315, the health department was quoted as saying in a bulletin on Wednesday (April 21). It said that the number of active cases stands at 33,178, while 1,37,590 people have so far recovered from the disease.
Of the fresh fatalities, 15 were reported from Ranchi and 10 from East Singhbhum, the bulletin said. The remaining deaths were registered in several other districts. The new coronavirus cases included 1,703 from Ranchi and 692 from East Singhbhum district.
What’s allowed in the lockdown
All medicinal and healthcare facilities are allowed to operate with safety precautions. These include doctor’s clinics, pharmacies and medical instruments shops.
Fair price shops that fall under the public distribution system as well as grocery shops are allowed. But it is advised to consider home delivery of goods as much as possible.
Wholesale shops, street vendors, fruits and vegetables sellers are allowed to sell. In hotels and restaurants, home delivery is permitted but sit-in dining is prohibited. Dhabas on the national and state highways are allowed to serve food as well.
All agricultural activities are permitted as well. Also, all shops or establishments dealing with agriculture related items are permitted.
The lockdown also allows industrial and mining activities and so are construction activities and the shops selling construction materials.
E-commerce, veterinary care shops, excise shops, vehicle repair shops, cold storages and warehouses, and all government offices are allowed to function with emphasis on physical distancing and precautionary measures such as masks.
All banking institutions including ATMs (automated teller machines) are allowed to operate. Print and electronic media are allowed to perform their duties.
What’s not allowed in the lockdown
All places of worship are permitted to open for performing rituals but entry of visitors shall remain prohibited as indoor or outdoor congregations of more than five persons are prohibited in the state with the exception of marriage functions with upper limit of 50 persons and last rites related functions with upper limit of 30 persons.
All processions including religious and political processions are prohibited.
All educational institutions including schools/colleges/IT, skill development centres/coaching classes/tuition classes/training institutions shall be closed. All examinations to be conducted in the given period will stand postponed.
All ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) centres shall be closed. Home delivery of National Food Security Act entitlements shall be ensured. All fairs and exhibitions are prohibited and movie halls and multiplexes shall remain close.
All stadiums, gymnasiums, swimming pools and parks shall be closed. Banquet halls shall not be used for any purpose other than marriage or last rites related functions.
Apart from these restrictions, the district collector (DC) in the state can allow certain activities if she/he deems fit.
