As the COVID-19 cases and fatalities have been registering a decline in Punjab since past few days, the State Government on Thursday announced to do away with the Sunday and night curfews, besides enhancing the limit for guests at marriage functions and funerals to 100 under Unlock 5.0.
However, the Government would announce the decision on reopening of schools after due deliberations between the state Home Secretary and the Education Department.
Ordering a slew of relaxations under Unlock 5.0, the Chief Minister announced lifting of night curfew and ending Sunday lockdown, while directing the DGP to strictly enforce wearing of masks and other safety norms.
Among the relaxations announced by the Chief Minister are increasing the limit for marriage functions and funerals to 100 in the state, in line with the Government of India guidelines, as well as easing the limit of three persons in a car and 50 percent capacity in buses, subject to the condition of windows being open.
Capt Amarinder, however, has directed the DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure strict adherence to COVID protocols, with immediate action against those violating the mandatory masks condition. There should be no laxity, especially in view of the ongoing paddy procurement operations and the forthcoming festival season, he said.
On the issue of reopening of schools and educational institutions, which the Centre had left to the states to decide post October 15 under Unlock 5.0, the final decision will be announced after due deliberations between the Home Secretary and the Education Department.
During a virtual meeting to review the COVID situation in the state, the Chief Minister took note of the decline in the rising cases or deaths trend and said that the restrictions imposed earlier by the State Government had helped. However, he expressed concern over the increase in cases in rural areas, even though numbers in cities or towns were going down.
Capt Amarinder also directed the Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to look into arranging for provision of Vitamins etc to poor COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals.
In a brief presentation earlier, the state’s expert health committee head, Dr KK Talwar, said that the positivity rate in the State had come down from 10.85 percent on September 14 to 5.12 percent on September 28.
The number of deaths and patients on ventilators had also shown a decline during this period, he said, adding that the state’s COVID-19 death rate currently stands at 2.9 percent with deaths per million at 112.5 percent, while the recovery rate has gone up to 82.1 percent.
The state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu underlined the need for motivation of doctors and other medical staff to keep the situation under control.
The state Health secretary Hussan Lal shared details of the current situation in government and private hospitals etc, while the Medical Education and Research secretary Dr DK Tiwari disclosed that 54 COVID-19 patients had been given plasma donation at the three Government Medical Colleges so far.
SUKHNA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY TO OPEN FROM TODAY
The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary will open on October 2 for the general public after a gap of almost six months. The Sanctuary was closed in the month of March due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and later, due to the onset of monsoon season.
The Sanctuary spreads over an area of nearly 26 sq km and boasts a large number of birds and animals. Every year, more than 10000 people visit the Sanctuary. Spotted Deer (Chittal), Pangolin (anteater), Wild Boar, Jackal, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Porcupine, Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Indian Hare, Common Mongoose among other mammals are inhabitants of the Sanctuary. Leopards are also a frequent visitor to the Sanctuary from forest areas of neighboring Haryana. The varieties of reptiles including Snakes like Cobra, Rat Snake, Common Krait, Russell’s Viper, Indian Python and Common Monitor (Gho), Freshwater Turtle also inhabit the Sanctuary.
CENTRAL GUIDELINES OF UNLOCK 5.0 TO BE APPLICABLE IN CHD
The UT Administration issued an order adopting the Central Government 5.0 unlock guidelines which has allowed opening of cinemas, theatres, swimming pools among other entertainment facilities from October 15 onwards. Cinemas, theatres, business to business (B2B) exhibitions, entertainment parks, swimming pools have been permitted to open after October 15 with the adoption of standard operating procedure. The decision to re-open schools and coaching institutions will be taken later by the UT Administration.