With the COVID-19 cases rising at a rapid pace in Chandigarh, the UT Administration on Friday night ordered closure of all markets and shopping malls on weekends till further orders.
“Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has ordered closure of all shops and malls (except essential services) in Chandigarh on Saturdays and Sundays until further orders,” Manoj Parida, Adviser to UT Administrator told The Pioneer.
The decision has been taken in view of a surge in COVID-19 positive cases in the city. We have allowed restaurants, hotels, private offices to open on weekends. Only shops and malls will be closed for two days and the decision will be reviewed after the weekend, he said. There will be no change in curfew timings in Chandigarh and it would continue to be from 10 pm to 5 am. Also, there will be no ban on movement of people on weekends, Parida added.
The total tally of cases jumped to 2631 including 1170 active cases in the city. The death toll reached 33 till Friday evening.
The Haryana Government had also on Friday announced that all offices and shops except essential services will remain shut on weekends in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. A day before, the Punjab Government had ordered extension of weekend lockdown with daily night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am in all the 167 cities and towns in the state.