RAIPUR: Lockdown period in
Chhattisgarh
is being extended as most districts are not showing sustained decreasing positivity rates even as the state government has sounded an alert to the tribal Bastar region after a dangerous new coronavirus variant has been detected in neighboring Andhra Pradesh.
“In Andhra, a new variant/ strain has been detected and it is reported to be very dangerous and it may spread to Bastar division districts. These districts need to strictly implement border controls, improve border checking, testing and extend lockdown”, a communication sent to Bastar divisional commissioner and collectors said.
A government spokesman said all extensions of lockdown will be uniform till May 15 but certain relaxations have been granted. In-state capital Raipur and Durg districts—where test positivity rates are tapering off, lockdown can be extended till May 15 with more relaxations.
While liquor shops in all the 28 districts will continue to remain closed during the extended lockdown period, marriage and funeral functions will be allowed as per full Covid protocol as per the guidelines of the centre and state health department. All the 28 district collectors will issue separate orders extending the lockdown period as per the guidelines fixed by the state government.
The communication to district collectors said all border districts of all sides will maintain strict border surveillance, checkpoints, testing, and holding areas. Sundays will be a complete lockdown and only hospitals, clinical establishments, medicine shops, pet feeding, petrol pumps, home delivery items and services will be allowed.
For almost more than a month, Chhattisgarh has been battling the second wave of Covid-19. For the last several days, around 15,000 new positive cases are being reported with the state’s test positivity rate remaining between 25 to 30 percent and the number of daily deaths around 200. However, there has been a decline in new cases in Raipur and Durg districts where Covid cases rose initially. Now more cases are being reported daily from Bilaspur,
Raigarh
, Janjgir-Champa, and Korba districts were more than 1000 cases are being reported every day.