84 hour lockdown begins in Kashmir
Standalone shops, essential services, public transport allowed functioning
Srinagar: Authorities on Thursday initiated the 84 hour long lockdown across most of the districts in the Union Territory owing to the huge spike in covid cases across the region.
On Thursday JK recorded 3474 fresh positive cases while as 26 persons succumbed to the virus. Among the new cases, officials said that 1024 infections were from Jammu Division and 2134 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 172551.
Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad meanwhile said that imposing curbs and following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should not be considered as a punishment, saying that all these measures are being in the interests of the people and are need of the hour.
He also said that lockdown at this juncture was imperative to break the transmission chain.
Addressing media persons here at his office, DC Srinagar said that transport with 50 per cent seating capacity will be allowed to ply during the lockdown period from Thursday evening to Monday morning. He said the decision to allow public transport to ply has been taken for the people who don’t have their transport and have to reach the hospitals or other related places.
“Allowing transport to ply is not an invitation for the people to come out, but the decision was taken for the wellbeing of the people who will have to reach the hospitals or other related places,” he said.
He also added that during the lockdown period, the standalone shops shall remain open while restaurants in the hotels shall remain open for in-house guests only. He also stated that the food to the guests will be served in rooms.
“There will be no hindrance to the smooth movement of goods and essential supplies, nomads migrating with herds, Darbar Move Officials/ staff, and other products like agricultural / horticultural goods, on the National & State Highways.”
He said there shall he no restriction on interstate and intra slate movement of essential goods either.
“All Industrial and Scientific establishment, both Public & Private, are allowed to operate for production purposes, or otherwise. Internet services, IT, Telecom, IT enabled services’ sector, including c-Commerce are permitted.”
He said there shall be no restriction on the movement of Government Officials for attending office, duties on production of I-Cards and Official Orders.
“All development/ construction works shall be allowed to continue without any hindrance.”
The vaccination drive shall not be halted, he said. “Localized mobile teams shall be constituted to provide vaccination in colonics, residential areas and containment zones.”
Regarding non-permissible activities, he said there shall be a complete ‘corona’ curfew with no movement of people except for permissible activities only.
“All Educational institutions are already closed and shall continue to remain closed,” he said, adding, “All Shopping Complexes, Bazaars, Saloons, Barber Shops, Cinema Halls, Restaurants & Bars, Sport Complexes, Gyms, Spas, Swimming Pools, Parks, Zoos, etc, shall remain closed.”
He said religious and social gatherings such as marriages, attended by up to 50 persons only, whether indoors or outdoors, and funerals / last rites, attended by up to 20 persons only, are allowed.
“Public transport shall be allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% capacity only and this shall be strictly enforced.”
He said Health Department will establish telemedicine facilities for patients isolating at home. “Dedicated Control room numbers for this shall be widely publicized,” adding, “Direct admission of patients in tertiary care hospitals shall be allowed only on referral from a district hospital except for emergencies.”
All COVID patients being admitted lo tertiary hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar shall necessarily be based on referral from their respective District hospitals, except for grave emergencies.
“Last but not the least, public at large is also being informed that Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act provides for penalties in case a person obstructs any officer or employee in discharge of his functions or refuses to comply with any direction given under this Act. Any violation of the above directions will, therefore, lead to prosecution under section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. SSP Srinagar shall strictly enforce compliance to this order.”
