COVID-19: Week-long lockdown in Maha's Amravati from Monday

Due to the spike in thecoronavirus cases in the past few days, Amravati district inMaharashtra's Vidarbha region will be placed under a week-longlockdown from 8 pm on February 22, a state minister said onSunday.

The lockdown will be in force till 8 am on March 1,minister Yashomati Thakur said.

Apart from the week-long lockdown in Amravati, certainrestrictions will be in place in four other districts ofAmravati division- Akola, Washim, Buldhana and Yavatmal- witha view to curb the spread of the virus, an official said.

Thakur, who is the district guardian minister ofAmravati, on Sunday reviewed the coronavirus situation.

She said that the week-long lockdown in Amravati wasessential to control the recent spike in cases.

''During the lockdown, all shops, except those dealingin essential commodities, will remain shut along with thegovernment and private educational institutions, privatecoaching classes, training schools. People can buy items ofdaily need from 9 am to 5 pm,'' the minister said.

Cinema houses, gyms, swimming pools, parks will remainshut and gatherings for entertainment, educational, cultural,religious purposes etc will not be permitted, she added.

The number of beds for COVID-19 treatment will beincreased from 1,400 to 1,600 in the city and strictrestrictions will be enforced in nine containment zonesdeclared by the Amravati civic body, Thakur said.

She said that industries that have been givenpermission earlier will continue operations, while governmentoffices and banks will work with 15 per cent staff or aminimum of 15 persons.

''Hotels and restaurants will sell only parcels whilegoods transport will continue unrestricted during the February22-March 1 lockdown,'' she said.

According to the official, the district has reported7,470 COVID-19 cases and 43 deaths since February 1, includinga record single-day addition of 727 cases on Saturday.

The tally rose by 709 cases on Sunday, after whichDivisional Commissioner Piyush Singh announced certainrestrictions in Amravati, Akola, Washim, Buldhana andYavatmal, he said.

The restrictions in other districts of the divisionwill be for 36 hours, barring Amravati and Achalpur,Divisional Commissioner Singh said.

District Collector Shailesh Naval said thateducational offices, non-teaching staff, research staff andscientists will be permitted for e-information, evaluation ofanswer sheets and result declaration work only.

Restrictions on number of passengers in differenttypes of vehicles have been put in place, while inter-districtbus transport will operate at 50 per cent capacity, that toowith passengers compulsorily maintaining social distancing andwearing masks, he said.

''All concessions given under the 'Mission Begin Again'stand cancelled till 8 am of March 1,'' Naval said.