COVID-19 lockdown: Himachal Pradesh to give relaxation in curfew for morning-walkers

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Saturday indicated the curfew will remain in place in the state till May 3, but extended the daily relaxation from existing three hours to 5.5 hours from Monday, including 1.5 hours for morning-walkers.

Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here

During a video-conference with Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Thakur said the curfew imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus has adversely affected the economy of the state.

“It is vital to chalk out an appropriate action plan to revive the economic activities post curfew/lockdown from May 3 onwards,” he said.

He said the state has not reported many cases over past several days and therefore, the government has decided to relax curfew norms from Monday for at least 5.5 hours, barring in hotspots.

The relaxation will include one-and-a-half-hour easing of curbs from 5.30 am to 7 am daily for morning-walkers, he said.

However, the Shimla district administration revised the relaxation timings for morning walkers from 6 am to 8 am, the Shimla Police said in a social media post.

The state has so far reported 41 positive cases - 20 recovered, 15 active and under treatment. four shifted outside Himachal and two dead.

Thakur said the curfew relaxation for buying essential items would be increased from Monday to four hours from existing three hours.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths

The relaxation timings will be decided by concerned DCs, he said.

In Kangra, DC Rakesh Prajapati decided to relax curfew from 8 am to 12 noon from Monday.

However, wearing masks, maintaining distance of at least 1.5 metre will be mandatory.

The CM said the relaxation may further be increased in coming days.

Efforts are being made to bring back Himachal students and other residents stranded outside, he added.

Similarly, the people of other states stranded in Himachal Pradesh must also be facilitated to go back to their respective states, he told the officials.

Thakur directed that the DCs concerned must also ensure that all private hospitals and clinics in their jurisdictions function smoothly.

The CM said the state government has decided to allow inter-district movement of trucks carrying construction materials from mining sites to project areas.

The government has also allowed inter-district movement of road construction machinery to the construction sites, he said, adding works under job guarantee scheme MGNREGA must be allowed by maintaining mandatory distance of at least 1.5 metres.