Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal will go under complete lockdown for 10 days from 8.00pm on July 24 (Friday) as COVID-19 cases have shown a big surge during the past three weeks of July.
On Wednesday, the capital reported another 157 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 4,669. Two more deaths were reported, and the fatality toll now stands at 144.
Of the total, as many as 1,880 cases, or 40 per cent of all the cases, have been reported in the past three weeks of July. Also, the last 1,079 cases were reported in a mere nine days.
“In view of the COVID-19 infection situation in Bhopal and in the interest of the citizens, we have decided to impose a 10-day lockdown from 8.00pm on July 24. In this duration, supply of essentials like fruits, vegetables, medicines, milk and others will be continued. I request everyone to follow the rules and take precautions,” Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted on Wednesday night. He added that the lockdown will be relaxed at 8.00am on August 4.
This means that two major festivals—Eid-uz-Zuha (July 31) and Rakshabandhan (August 3)—will fall under the restrictions of lockdown.
Giving details of the restrictions, Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that apart from the shops selling aforementioned essentials, industries and government ration (PDS) shops will remain open. However, grocery shops, salons, hotels and restaurants and all other places will remain closed. Industries will continue to function and only officers and essential staff will be present in government offices. “I urge the citizens to purchase all necessary things during the next two days,” Mishra said.
The home minister also said that the district borders will be sealed and e-passes, as earlier during the main national lockdown phase, will be required to travel to and from Bhopal. As trains and flights will continue to operate, their tickets will be considered as e-passes for the travellers. Citizens will be allowed to commute to and from railway stations and airports.
COVID-19 cases have been worryingly surging in the state during the past three weeks and the tally now stands at 24,842, with 11,249 of these cases reported since July 1. Bhopal—which saw heightened political activity due to expansion of the state cabinet and due to impending bypolls—has shown the highest spike in numbers in this duration.
While the chief minister has ruled out total lockdown in the entire state, local crisis management groups have been asked to impose restrictions as required in the districts or areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases. Last week, the Gwalior district administration imposed a lockdown of seven days to control the growing cases.
Meanwhile, 31 localities of Bhopal that have reported fresh cases will go under lockdown from Thursday morning, meaning that they will be locked down for a total of 12 days.
