Coronavirus: Telangana CM declares state lockdown till March 31

HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister (CM)

K Chandrasekhar Rao

announced a complete lockdown of the state until March 31 on Sunday in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.

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After holding a high-level meeting with senior officials, the chief minister declared that the lockdown is being notified under

Epidemic Disease Act 1987

. Section 144 will be imposed in all the districts wherein not more than five people will be allowed to gather outside. "To purchase groceries and vegetables, only one person per family will be permitted. We can contain the pandemic if we show the same unity that people displayed today until March 31," said Rao, adding that a government order will be issued shortly declaring outlets that will be open and closed during this period.

During the lockdown, all public transport including buses, metro, MMTS will be suspended. The government will also be sealing all the state borders thereby restricting private or public vehicles. Except vehicles carrying goods, no other vehicles will be allowed to enter the state.

The CM announced that 2.83 crore white card holders will receive free ration and financial assistance of Rs 1,500. Total Rs 2,417 crore will be borne by the state government wherein the government will offer 12 kgs of free rice to below poverty level families.

The government is also putting together a list of pregnant women who are due for delivery. "For pregnant women due for delivery, ambulances will be made available. All non-essential surgeries & medical services, including those in private hospitals, will be postponed so that the health officials can focus on tackling coronavirus," said Rao.

Apart from emergency services, government employees will attend on 20 percent rotation. The CM has asked all the employers to pay salaries to the outsourcing and contact staff for the lockdown period. "We will be issuing a government order shortly on outlets that will be open and closed during the lockdown period," said Rao.

The measures were taken after five more positive cases of coronavirus came to fore in Telangana on Sunday. The total number of cases in the state now stands at 26 of which one patient has recovered and discharged.