In the Special War Room meeting held on Monday, UT Administrator VPS Badnore reviewed the Covid situation in Chandigarh.
Keeping in view that Chandigarh is the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, total sealing of borders will not be possible. It was also felt that a total lockdown for long period will adversely affect the economy and may also lead to migration of labourers from the city, thereby causing massive disruption. Hence, a considered decision was taken to have restrictive measures as follows:
(i) Night curfew will continue from 6pm to 5am every day.
(ii) There will be day time restrictions wef 5pm on May 4 (Tuesday), till 5am on May 11 (Tuesday). During these 7 days, the following restrictions will be imposed :-
(a) All shops selling non-essential items will remain closed.
(b) All government offices and banks will work with 50% capacity. As far as possible, all private offices will ensure that the staff works from home.
(c) Public transport will run with 50% capacity.
(d) Ban on cinema halls, gyms, spa, bar, swimming pool, coaching centres will continue.
(e) Sports complexes will remain closed. Special permission can be given by Secretary (Sports) to athletes preparing for Olympics, etc.
(f) Restaurants including hotels, café, coffee shops, eating places will be allowed to function only for take away. No seating arrangements will be allowed inside their premises. Home delivery can be done upto 9pm.
(g) There shall be a complete ban on all social, cultural, sports and political gatherings.
(h) Recruitment exams will be postponed excepting those like UPSC etc., especially permitted by Chandigarh Administration.
(i) While there will be no restriction on inter-state movement, yet those entering Chandigarh without negative Covid reports or vaccine certificates will be subject to random testing.
(j) All hospitals, nursing homes and health related facilities like testing laboratories, etc will function normally.
(k) Visitors entering government offices may be required to produce vaccination certificates or negative Covid reports.
(l) The gathering for the occasions like marriages will be restricted to 50 and for cremation/funeral, it will be 20 persons.
(m) Crowded places like Sukhna Lake, Museums, Libraries, Rock Garden etc. will remain closed.
(n) School, colleges, coaching centres will remain closed. However, teaching staff will be required to come as per detailed instructions to be issued by Education Department.
(o) While movement of vehicles have been allowed during day time, the residents are requested to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
(p) The shops selling essential items like milk, bread, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, eggs, meat, mobile repair will remain opened.
(q) It is clarified that total weekend curfew on Saturday and Sunday will continue in Chandigarh.
Keeping in view the nature of work being done by the mediamen, the Hon’ble Administrator decided that all accredited journalists will be included in the official list of frontline workers in UT, Chandigarh
The Administrator also directed that beds’ capacity in medical institutions should be enhanced to accommodate the increasing number of Covid patients.
Dr. Jasbinder Kaur, Director Principal, GMCH, stated that they have set up 100 beds in Sector 48 Hospital and 21 more oxygen beds are being added. She also mentioned that in GMCH, 155 beds were available, which have now been increased to 200 oxygen beds.
The Administrator directed that a Special Task Force should be constituted under Principal Secretary Health to ensure proper auditing of the fatalities taking place in Sector 16, 32 and 48 hospitals.
