Ranchi: The Jharkhand government on Tuesday announced a
weeklong 'Swasth Suraksha Saptah' (health week), an equivalent to statewide
lockdown from 6 am of April 22 till 6 am of April 26 to check the exponential growth of
Covid-19 cases in the state.
However, personnel working with essential services will be out of the purview of the restrictions.
After holding an extensive meeting of top officials over the Covid-19 situation, chief minister
Hemant Soren said in a video message, "Considering the rising number of Covid-19 cases, it is imperative to break the chain of infection. Our focus has been on giving equal importance to the lives of people and their livelihood. After thorough discussions, we have decided to impose the Swasth Suraksha Saptah from 6 am of April 22 till 6 am of April 29. I appeal to all residents to continue following appropriate Covid-safety protocols."
Soren further said his government’s decision to impose the restriction was made after heavy demands were made from both within his party and other quarters.
In his video message, Soren also said a formal and detailed notification, which will specify the modalities of the restrictions, will be issued later in the day but identified activities like mining, agriculture, constructions and a few others as essential and important for the state. "These activities will be allowed to operate during the period but the manpower involved should follow guidelines," he said.
"All religious places will remain functional but the entry of devotees will be prohibited and gathering of more than five persons at a place will not be permitted," he said, adding, "As far as government offices are concerned, be it that of the Union government or the state, only those permitted will operate.”
Soren's message did not mention the transport sector, including air, rail and road services, but sources in the government said this sector cannot be regulated because of the large inflow of migrants and Jharkhand residents from other states.
Earlier, the government had put a cap on the number of guests to 50 for marriages apart from closing all institutes for one month along with the cancellation of all examinations.
However, with Tuesday's announcement of disallowing a gathering of more than five people in public places, several families, who have planned marriages, are in a state of confusion.
No government official responded to queries on the matter till the time of filing the report.
Notably, different trade bodies and
JMM, a key alliance partner in the ruling coalition government, have been demanding a complete lockdown for two weeks. Though
Congress, a ruling alliance partner, wasn’t fully on board while deciding on the total lockdown, many party lawmakers had openly defied the stand urged the
chief minister to announce lockdown.
Opposition
BJP and Ajsu-P had already assured the chief minister during an all-party meeting last week to fully support his government on any decision it takes.
Welcoming the lockdown decision, state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash told TOI, “It is high time to impose the lockdown as the Covid-19 situation in the state has completely gone out of control. To break the chain, this restriction is needed. Our party fully support the government on the matter. The government must now ensure that the poor and the needy don’t go hungry or face any hassles during this period.”