Government of India has asked all States and UnionTerritories to continue implementing lockdown restrictions strictly for theextended period till May 3, 2020 as announced by the Prime Minister as aneffort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Government hasdecided to provide some relaxations after April 20 in places, where there areno hotspots.
This was stated by the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, whowas interacting with the Chief Secretaries, DGPs and other senior officers ofthe States/UTs through video conference to discuss the strategy for containmentof coronavirus.
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr P K Mishra, HealthSecretary, Preeti Sudan, Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla and otherSecretaries of concerned Ministries attended the meeting.
Chief Secretary, BVR Subhramanyam, DGP J&K, DilbagSingh, Financial Commissioner, Health, Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary, Home,Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary, HUDD, Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary,Planning, Rohit Kansal, Commissioner Secretary, Industries, Manoj Dwivedi,Secretary, FCS&CA, Simrandeep Singh participated in the meeting.
Interacting with the officers, the Cabinet Secretary saidthat it is very important for all of us to continue putting in serious effortsas we are doing since announcement of nationwide lockdown on March 25 to tacklethe spread of virus. He directed the Chief Secretaries to closely monitor thesituation in their respective States/UTs especially in the identified hotspots.
Cabinet Secretary asked the States/UTs to adopt strategicapproach in the containment zones to contain the disease within a defined areaby making it no movement zone, early detection of cases, breaking the chain oftransmission and thus preventing its spread to new areas.
He stressed for passing on clear instructions to the DeputyCommissioners and then further to the field functionaries to ensure theimplementation of lockdown restrictions on ground and allowing only thoseactivities which are notified by the Government under NDMA Act time to time.Chief Secretaries and DGPs need to convene meetings with DCs and policeofficers at district level to strictly follow the lockdown directions in letterand spirit, the Cabinet Secretary added.
Cabinet Secretary said that to mitigate hardship to thepeople, GoI has decided to allow some additional activities to take place fromApril 20, for which the States/UTs have to put in place preparatoryarrangements with regard to social distancing in work places. He said that theconsolidated revised guidelines have been issued and strict implementations ofthe same are required from all the States and UTs. However, the States/UTs canimpose tougher measures.
The activities allowed under the guidelines shall not bepermitted in the containment zones and there will be strict perimeter controlin the area of the containment zones to ensure that there is no uncheckedinward/outward movement of people except for maintaining essential services, headded.
Referring to rural economy, the Cabinet Secretary said thatthe States/UTs have to ensure that all agricultural and horticulturalactivities to remain functional in a controlled manner.
Health Ministry also made a brief presentation oncontainment strategy and measures need to be taken in the Red Zones.
While briefing the Cabinet Secretary about the presentsituation in J&K and the corona control efforts, Chief Secretary BVRSubhramanyam said that UT is following the directions in toto of GoI and strictrestrictions are being implemented in the entire Union Territory.
All Red Zones that have been declared in different districtsof J&K are being closely monitored as per the devised strategy; the ChiefSecretary said adding that every necessary measure is being taken to stopfurther spread of coronavirus in Jammu & Kashmir.