CM Amarinder announces more Covid curbs, says can’t let Punjab go Mumbai, Delhi way

Amid the spiralling Covid cases, the Punjab government is all set to impose some more stringent curbs in the state, including further restrictions on social, public and family gatherings, as well as mandatory wearing of masks even while working.

Announcing this on Sunday, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said strictness was necessary to check the spread of coronavirus as he did not want Punjab to go the way of Mumbai, Delhi or Tamil Nadu.

Asked why the state government was not going for weekend lockdowns to contain the spread, he said Sunday lockdowns were already in place and the government was keeping a close watch on the situation and will do whatever necessary.

Underlining the need for everyone to behave responsibly in the current crisis, Captain Amarinder exhorted the people to adhere to all curbs, even as appealed to all political parties to avoid any kind of gathering to save the lives of Punjabis. “It is our joint responsibility to save Punjab. Politics can wait,” he stressed, calling for a collective fight by one and all against “the biggest danger facing humanity.” 

 Expressing concern over the rising number of Covid cases, with several frontline workers and even government officials testing positive, the Chief Minister said with vaccine still not in sight, it was left to the people to fight the coronavirus. Pointing out that 5,100 people were challaned on Saturday for not wearing masks, with some cases of spitting in public also reported, he said these actions could not be allowed.

In response to a question, Captain Amarinder attributed the increase in Covid cases in Punjab to increased testing and the large number of people coming from outside. From 700 tests a day initially, testing had gone up to more than 10,000 a day, he said, adding that in just four days, as many as 63,000 people had entered from other states, including Delhi.