Hyderabad: Residents of Hyderabad rushed to the shops to buy essential items during the relaxation time of the first day’s lock in Telangana. People were seen buying vegetables, fruits, clothes and other items. The relaxation period in Telangana is daily from 06:00 to 10:00.
The ten-day lock-up was instituted in Telangana to limit the spread of the land COVID-19 in the state. The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in Pragati Bhavan.
The Office of the Prime Minister (CMO) has stated that the shops can only remain open during the four-hour leisure period as the lock-up will be strictly enforced. It was also decided to close cinema school halls, swimming pools, clubs, gyms, amusement parks and sports stadiums.
An official statement said the state cabinet would meet again on May 20 to review the situation.
Sectors, services exempt from lockdown in Telangana
However, works related to agricultural products, related sectors, operation of rice factories, transport of paddy and rice, delivery of paddy to the FCI, fertilizer and seed shops, seed manufacturing enterprises and other sectors in agriculture were exempted from the closure.
Pharmaceutical companies, companies that manufacture medical equipment, medical distributors, medical stores, all kinds of medical and health services, government and private hospitals and their staff were also exempted.
Following the announcement of the closure in Telangana, panic was seen. Once the information about the closure was obtained, people rushed to the markets on Tuesday.
Tippers crowded liquor stores to buy enough stock to last for some time.
COVID-19 sake in Telangana
During the 24-hour period ending Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Telangana reported 4,801 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths.
Of the new infections, Hyderabad reported 756 cases, while Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri recorded 325 and 327 cases, respectively.
Source: The Siasat Daily