Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 5

The Himachal Pradesh government announced curfew restrictions for 10 days in the state—a development that comes as the state shows among the highest positivity rates for COVID-19 in India.

Himachal’s cabinet, which met amid growing COVID infections in the state, said curfew will be enforced from 12 am (midnight) on May 7 to May 16 (midnight). Authorities will impose Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent large gatherings. Emergency and essential services will be allowed. Industries, agriculture, and other civil works will also continue. 

All private and government offices will remain closed during that period, as will all educational institutions. 

Those entering the state will either have to produce a negative COVID report to avoid quarantine or otherwise undergo a mandatory RTPCR test in the state.

Class 10 examinations stand cancelled. Students in the class will be promoted to the next using internal assessments, along the same lines as the Central Board of Secondary Education, which cancelled Class 10 board exams in April.

 Himachal Pradesh has been reporting COVID positivity rate of 20 per cent lately.