The Telangana government has decided to further extend the lockdown until May 7, four days more than the date finalised by the centre. On Sunday, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao said his government estimated that the infection would be contained and new cases minimised as a result of this move, citing surveys and personal interactions with a cross-section of people to back the decision.
Another key decision was taken at the cabinet meeting held in the afternoon, bypassing centre’s guidelines and recommendations—the state will not allow any relaxations from April 20 for any industry. The CM said that the current guidelines and rules will continue in the state till May 7. It was pointed out that as per the Epidemic Act of 1987, the state and the centre have equal powers.
In a first, the state has banned food delivery services of aggregators, Swiggy and Zomato from Monday. The decision was apparently triggered by the recent case in Delhi where a food delivery person tested positive. The CM warned companies operating in this space to halt their services.
The state has also passed an order prohibiting house owners to collect rents from tenants for the months of March, April and May, with the CM clarifying that it was only a deferment. There will also be no penalty for property taxpayers because of the existing crisis.
In a surprising decision, the government has ordered private schools not to hike the fees for the 2020-21 academic year. Only tuition fee should be collected and only month-wise, Rao said.
He also announced that a sports complex has been turned into a COVID-19 exclusive hospital. Telangana Institute of Medical Science and Research, the new 1,500-bed facility hospital will be developed on par with a corporate hospital and will continue to treat patients even after the pandemic. He appealed to the people to strictly follow rules, especially in the containment zones. It was once again reminded that no religious congregation would be allowed anywhere.
Earlier, the CM said that the doubling rate of infection in the state was slower than the national average. The state is testing more than the country’s average, he said.
