A day after Odisha announced the extension of the lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, till 30 April, Punjab becomes the second state to extend the lockdown.
"The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, to check community spread of the coronavirus pandemic and to prevent overcrowding at the Mandis in the light of the ensuing wheat harvesting/procurement season," the government said in a press statement.
Captain Singh is expected to communicate the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s Saturday conference with chief ministers, according to an official spokesperson.
According to the official statement, "Citing the grim projections about the spread of the pandemic in the coming weeks, the Chief Minister said the curfew restrictions were essential so that the medical infrastructure is not burdened beyond its capabilities. There was a general consensus in the medical community that the lockdown curbs would only delay the spread of the disease, he said, hoping that some medication/cure would be found soon".
The Punjab government recently also made face masks mandatory for its citizens who are stepping out in public.
The Council of Ministers also decided to set up a multi-disciplinary task force to formulate an exit strategy for a gradual relaxation of the lockdown. The task force will have about 15 members representing trade, business, industry, agriculture, civil society, and health care professionals and is expected to submit a report within 10 days.
The Council Ministers also resolved to urge upon Government of India to establish an Advance Center of Virology in Punjab with an anticipated investment of Rs 500 crore, with the state government to offer land free of cost for the project.