Lockdown Extended In Nagpur Till March 31 As Covid-19 Cases Surge - Check Fresh Guidelines

As per the fresh guidelines issued by the local administration, all schools and colleges will remain closed while local markets have been allowed to operate till 4 pm across the city.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Nagpur: On the backdrop of significantly surging cases of Coronavirus in Maharashtra's Nagpur, the district administration on Saturday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the city till March 31. A complete lockdown was imposed in Nagpur city from March 15 to March 21, which was again extended today.

As per the fresh guidelines issued by the local administration, all schools and colleges will remain closed while local markets have been allowed to operate till 4 pm across the city.

Maharashtra minister Nitin Raut, who is also the district gurdian minister, said that the curbs were imposed in Nagpur amid the rise in COVID-19 cases will continue March 31, but with some relaxations.

He further informed that a separate standard operating procedure will be issued for the festival of Holi, which will be observed on March 28-29.

Shops selling essential commodities will be permitted to operate till 4 pm as opposed to the earlier timing of 1 pm, while restaurants and eateries, which had been ordered to remain shut, can function till 7 pm, the minister said.

Meanwhile, food delivery services will be allowed till 11 pm.

According to reports, hundreds of citizens of the district were seen not wearing face masks and flouting Covid-19 protocols which reportedly led to the surge in daily Coronavirus cases.

The minister also informed that the Police department has been directed to take strict action against those violating the norms. Nagpur recorded 3,235 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, taking the count of infections to 1,85,787, one of the highest in Maharashtra.