Jaipur: In the wake of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday directed a 'complete lockdown' in the state till March 31, starting from Sunday (March 22). According to an official statement released by the Congress-led state government, there will be a complete lockdown, barring essential and medical services, in the state from March 22-March 31 to contain the spread of novel Coronavirus and keep people safe.

Gehlot took the decision at a high-level meeting with the top officials as total number of positive cases in the state mounted to 25 on Saturday and reports of other 40 people are awaited. "All government offices, malls, factories, public transport etc. will remain shut during the period, Gehlot said.

Meanwhile, shops selling daily necessities things like vegetables, dairy and medical items will remain open during this period.

"In order to protect the lives of people from coronavirus infection, instructions have been given for complete lock down from March 22 to March 31, excluding essential services across the state," CM Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.

"During this period of global pandemic, people should not have any problem related to food. More than one crore families, linked to the National Food Security Act, will get free wheat till May," he said in another tweet.

A core group has been formed to take daily decisions, which shall visit the deprived and poor section of the society to check on their needs during the lockdown period. Families connected with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) shall get free wheat for two months.

The street vendors and daily workers, who are out of the NFSA list, shall get food packets free of cost for two months from April 1. The Chief Minister also appealed to all factory workers to ensure that they are being paid their salaries during the lockdown period. Also, they should not be terminated from their jobs during this period.