Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered extension of the existing Covid restrictions till September 30, in view of the upcoming festival season.
A limit of 300 has been set on all gatherings, including political, and strict enforcement of wearing of masks as well as social distancing. The CM made it mandatory for organisers, including political parties, to ensure that participants, management and staff at food stalls, etc, in festival-related events are fully vaccinated, or at least have had got one shot.
Calling for continued vigil in the light of the festivals, the CM urged all political parties to lead by example, while directing the DGP to ensure compliance of restrictions by all.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said with case load decreasing, people had started being lax on the masks front, which the Health Department should strictly enforce with the help of the police. The Punjab CM also directed Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to make joint administration-police flying squads in each district to ensure compliance at restaurants, marriage palaces etc.
Chairing a virtual high-level Covid review meeting, he also directed the Department of Social Security to prepare to open Anganwari Centres within this month, making Punjab the first state to do so. The opening of these centres will be subject to vaccination of staff and other guidelines to be worked out jointly with the Health Department.
DR KK Talwar, head of Punjab’s Covid expert committee, said while the situation currently was under control, there was need to prepare for the third wave, and also for the upcoming festival season. He urged the Chief Minister to appeal to all religious organizations to make regular announcements from temples and Gurdwaras for wearing of masks. Market committees should be asked to do the same in view of the crowds expected in markets, he suggested, adding that shopkeepers and their staff should also be tested more aggressively on account of the festival season.
