Himachal Pradesh Government on Monday announced shutdown in the entire state except essential services in the backdrop of spread of two COVID-19 cases in Kangra district.
The entire State was placed under lockdown till further orders, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur informed the Assembly, whose ongoing Budget session was curtailed till Monday.
As per lockdown order, all public transport and private vehicles will be suspended even within the State, except in emergency cases. However, carriage vehicles carrying essential items like milk, uncooked food and groceries will be allowed.
A spokesperson of the State Government said all interstate and intrastate movement of public and private stage and contract carriages including taxies, autorickshaws etc has been prohibited. There would be total prohibition on movement or plying of trains and commercial aircrafts. The private vehicles would be plied only if essentially required for visiting hospitals and for availing or maintenance of essential services. Goods carriage vehicles would however be allowed to ply.
He said that all shops, commercial establishments, factories , workshops, godowns etc would close their operations except for shops or stores selling groceries, milk, bread, fruit, vegetable, meat, fish and other uncooked food items and their transportation related activities and warehousing. He said that hospitals, chemist stores, optical stores, pharmaceuticals and soap manufacturing units and their ancillaries together with transportation related activities would remain operational. Besides, petrol pumps, LPG gas, oil agencies, their godowns and their transportation related activities would also be operational. E-commerce (delivery) of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipments would also be operational.
He said that production and manufacturing units, which require continuous process, may continue to function, after obtaining required permission from the Deputy Commissioner and following all precautionary protocols, as notified by Health Department from time to time.
He said that strict home quarantine would be observed by all foreign returnees, who landed in India on or after March 9. All such foreign returnees would mandatorily notify the district Survillence Officer of the concerned district and 104 toll free number and register themselves for home quarantine, failing which they would be liable for legal action.
The spokesperson said that people are required to stay at home and come out only for basic purposes, like visit to grocery, vegetable shops, chemists, etc and for essential and permitted work related travel only and that too while strictly following social distancing guidelines issued from time to time.
He said that all the establishments which are allowed to be kept open, would also ensure social distancing within and outside their premises.