In view of rising COVID-19 cases in Punjab, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a series of emergency measures, including extension of weekend lockdown in all 167 cities and towns in the state and daily night curfew from 7 pm till 5 am. The measures will take effect from today.

The decisions were taken by the Chief Minister during a virtual meeting with top officials to review the Covid situation. As part of emergency measures to deal with COVID-19, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also ordered a complete ban on all gatherings except weddings and funerals across the state till 31st of this month. The Government and private offices will work at 50 per cent capacity till the end of this month

The Chief Minister also directed the concerned officials to restrict public visitors in government officials and to encourage the use of online grievance redressal system.

In the five worst affected districts of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and SAS Nagar in Mohali, restrictions on vehicular capacity have been imposed again, with buses and other public transport to operate with 50 percent capacity and private four-wheelers not allowed to carry more than three passengers per vehicle.

The Chief Minister has also directed the deputy commissioners in these five districts to allow only 50 percent of the non-essential shops to open on a daily basis to check crowding. These five districts are currently accounting for 80 percent of the active case load in the state.

Mr Singh also directed Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to strictly enforce compliance of directions. He also asked the DGP to crack the whip on all political protests and gatherings, and asked his own party, Punjab Congress, leadership to enforce the ban strictly.

Pointing to the 920 coronavirus deaths reported in the state so far, the Chief Minister said each death pains me, and the projections for the coming weeks are grim.

The Chief Minister said the state was in an 'health emergency’ situation, necessitating harsh measures, which might have to be further intensified in the coming days to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In the wake of continuous rise in COVID-19 cases, the Punjab Government has imposed additional restrictions within municipal limits of all the cities of Punjab from today to till further orders. An Official Spokesman informed that movement of individuals for all the non-essential activities shall remain prohibited between 9.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. within municipal limits. However, essential activities including operation of multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on national and state highways and unloading of cargo and travel of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and aeroplanes would be permitted. Similarly, all industries running into two to three shifts would also remain open.

He revealed that restaurants, hotels and other hospitality units would remain open till 8.30 p.m. Apart from this, shops and shopping malls would remain open till 8.00 p.m.

The Punjab Government has requested the people to avoid unnecessary travel on Saturdays and Sundays in the big towns of Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar.

Punjab is witnessing a spike in Covid 19 cases. 1495 fresh positive cases were reported yesterday and 749 patients were discharged from various hospitals after recovery. 51 deaths were also reported. Out of total 1495 Covid positive patients found yesterday 220 are from Ludhiana district and 298 from Jalandhar district. The Bathinda and Ferozepur districts also reported 153 cases each.

With this number of persons tested positive so far has risen to 32695 out of which so far 20180 patients have cured and 862 have died due to this infection.

Now 11653 Covid patients are under treatment in various hospitals of the state.