Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday announced to reimpose certain provisions of lockdown to contain the second wave of Covid 19 virus at a time when the pandemic has gone out of control in Jharkhand.
Soren who also appealed to people through an audio statement cautioned people not to take Covid 19 lightly and take necessary precautions as the situation is quite grave this time.
In the afternoon Soren held a meeting with his cabinet colleagues finance minister Rameshwar Oraon, health minister Banna Gupta and minister of labour Satyanand Bhokta to review the situation in Jharkhand.
As per the decision taken during the meeting all kinds of examinations will remain suspended till further order. Besides, all academic institutions, training centers and even Anganwadi centers will remain closed. Earlier, 200 people were allowed to participate in marriage ceremonies. But the Soren government decided that only 50 people will be allowed to participate in any marriage function.
Soren said that the government will review the situation of Jharkhand after a month and the government will not hesitate to take strong actions and measures if the situation warranted so.
Notably, on Saturday the government held an all-party meeting to seek opinions on how to combat and control Covid 19 that has hit back as a tsunami which is deadlier than the previous wave. Even, chief minister’s own party, the JMM, demanded a lockdown across Jharkhand to save people. The government also faced public criticism for not showing any interest and attention to handle the situation.
After meeting his cabinet colleagues, the chief minister on Sunday issued an audio statement for people.
Chief minister minced no word that Covid 19 has spread in an alarming fashion and the situation is quite difficult. He cautioned that the government has limited resources so precautions will have to be taken.
“You must be aware of the situation. We are doing our best to protect health and to provide healthcare to people,” he said.
In the five minutes public appeal Soren said that the government is working round the clock to tackle the situation including proper facilities of oxygen cylinders in the hospitals at the district level. He said that procurement of lifesaving medicines is also done on priority basis.
“We are already increasing the number of beds in medical colleges besides big towns. But the way beds are added the occupancy is also going-up. It means that infection is still going on. We don’t know how long it will go. But on the primary level we have taken some decisions to break the chain of infection,” he said.
Soren particularly appealed to youths to observe self-restraint, avoid outing and gathering for fun and frolic at least for some times.
“If this is not done it will be difficult to handle the situation. You have to assume that whosoever you meet is affected by Covid 19 so you have to move with this thinking. If this is not done your entire family and relatives will be affected by Covid 19,” he said.