94K NRIs returned to Punjab, 30,000 in isolation, says Capt
Chandigarh, March 24
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said strict measures have to be taken as nearly 94,000 NRIs have reached the state since the spread of Covid-19.
The state government has put 48,000 persons, including 30,000 NRIs, in a quarantine, mainly at their houses, besides imposing curfew in the state to check further spread of the pandemic.
The case history of Covid positive persons in the state so far traces them to NRIs or someone who had travelled abroad. The government’s medical bulletin said 29 persons had tested positive for the virus. Of these, 21 were traced to only one NRI from Banga in Nawanshahr, who died within a few days of return from abroad.
The CM said the curfew orders were revised as people came out in droves during the relaxation hours thus defeating the purpose of the exercise. “Curfew has been imposed for the safety of your family, not because of any law and order situation. We all need to stay indoors to fight the deadly virus,” he said.
Police arrested 111 persons and lodged 232 FIRs for violation of curfew today.
“It is imperative to trace and test all those who had returned from Covid-affected countries,” said the CM, adding that of the over 94,000 NRIs and foreign-returned persons, who had entered the state in recent days, most had been tracked.
“Around 30,000 have been placed under isolation. All-out efforts are being made to trace the remaining,” he said, adding that constant monitoring was in progress to keep check on new travellers from abroad.
The CM said DCs had been asked to ensure door-to-door delivery of essential commodities, such as grocery, milk, fruits and vegetables, through pre-identified hawkers/ distributors, wherever possible.
As per the new guidelines, general exemption is completely barred, with no vehicular movement allowed without curfew passes. Only in case of emergency, people may be permitted to go on foot for essentials or to visit doctors and nursing homes, he said.
“In emergency, a resident can call police or civil control rooms to avail necessary essential services,” said the CM, adding that the police and civil administration had instructions to ensure that the citizens do not face hardships and were not harassed.
“Instead of blanket permission for opening of grocery shops, milk vendors, fruits and vegetable shops and chemists, it has been decided to allow them to open on a rotation. so that at any point of time at least one shop each is open in a given area. Such shops will also be allowed to provide door-to-door delivery on a call,” said Capt Amarinder.
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