In a war room meeting presided by the UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, the Chandigarh administration has decided to change the night curfew timings to 8pm to 5am from 10pm to 5am. The major decision on the seven-day complete lockdown will be decided in the next meeting of administration, which is going to be held on April 23.
After detailed discussions, the following decisions were taken by Chandigarh administration:-
(a) There will be a weekend lockdown from 8pm on Friday (April 23) till 5am on Monday (April 26)
(b) The proposal regarding 7-day lockdown in Chandigarh will be considered in the War Room meeting on Friday (April 23) and a decision will be taken after taking into account the number of Covid cases in the city.
(c) The night curfew timings on the days of non-lockdown days will be from 8pm to 05am.
(d) Administrator directed the police authorities to be extremely strict in enforcing lockdown instructions and the night curfew. All violators must be strictly dealt with. If necessary, the vehicles should be seized and heavy fine should be imposed on those indulging in non-essential travel or those violating the Covid protocol.
(e) The Governor directed Commissioner, Municipal Corporation to ensure that Covid protocol is strictly followed in all market places including Apni Mandis. All public places should be properly sanitized.
(f) Chandigarh Administrator appealed to the residents not to crowd the hospitals seeking admission. Only critical cases should be admitted as per medical advice. Mild Covid patients should opt for home isolation.
(g) The Administrator appealed to the public representatives, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Associations etc. to persuade all residents to take advantage of the vaccines being provided free by government in various venues/dispensaries.
(h) The Administrator mentioned that Chandigarh Command Hospital has offered facility to veterans for corona treatment and other medical care, if necessary. The facility should be utilized by the ex-servicemen.
Those exempted include:
- Those tasked with law and order/emergency and municipal services/duties, including executive magistrate, police, military or paramilitary personnel in uniform, health, electricity and fire staff, mediapersons with accreditation and government machinery tasked with Covid-related duties (all on production of ID cards)
- Essential commodity shops and vendors dealing in food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, animal fodder, pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical equipment will be allowed to operate for home delivery only
- Manufacturing units of essential commodities will be allowed to remain open
- Those specially issued a restricted movement curfew pass
- Passengers going to or returning from airport, railway stations or bus stand will be exempted
- All vehicles or persons in bona fide transit (interstate) will be allowed to pass, but only after due verification of the points of origin and destination
- There will be no curbs on interstate movement of essential and non-essential goods
- Hospitals, chemist shops and ATMs allowed to open 24×7
- Pregnant women and patients exempted for getting medical services
- Eateries, including food joints in various malls, can remain open only for home delivery up to 9.30 pm. The restaurants and home delivery staff will be allowed to move on production of valid ID card issued to them by their respective establishment
- Those going for appearing in examination and those on examination duties will be allowed movement on production of admit or identity cards
- All government employees called for essential duty during lockdown will be allowed transit on production of ID card issued by their respective governments
- All vaccination centres, testing centres, dispensaries and medical facilities will remain open
- All passes related to the Punjab and Haryana High Court and District Court will be issued by the Registrar General of High Court
- All marriage functions for which permission has been taken from the SDM concerned will be allowed subject to the limit of 50 persons