Covid-19: Curbs to be imposed in Nawada from tomorrow

PATNA: The spike in Covid-19 cases has forced several districts to either enforce lockdown or restrictions in the coming days. While Patna DM has imposed lockdown from July 10 to 16 and Bhagalpur district administration for four days from Thursday, Nawada administration will keep the district under lockdown for three days from July 10 to 12.
Restrictions were imposed in East Champaran, West Champaran and Kishanganj while lockdown period in Madhubani since Sunday ended on Tuesday.
Nawada ADM Om Prakash said DM Yash Pal Meena passed an order on Wednesday. He said only essential services would be allowed from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 8pm for the three days.
West Champaran DM Kundan Kumar has also ordered lockdown in Bettiah district headquarters and its town from 7pm to 5am from July 9.
When contacted, additional chief secretary (home) Amir Subhani told TOI over the phone that district magistrates have been empowered by the state government to take action for imposing restrictions in their respective districts as per requirement amid the present Covid-19 situation. He said the DMs have been directed to issue local orders after assessment of the situation.
On Tuesday, the home department issued a letter that DMs would be empowered to issue more stern orders than at present in central government’s Unlock 2.0 guidelines as per seriousness and local requirements to stop the spread of Covid-19.
In the letter issued by the department’s special secretary Sunil Kumar, he mentioned that the decision was taken at the crisis management group meeting on Monday.
Subhani said fines were being imposed for not wearing masks. “Vehicles are being seized if the occupants are not found wearing masks. Shops and business establishments are being shut if found violating social distancing norms,” he said.
In East Champaran, DM Shirsat Kapil Ashok imposed lockdown from 6pm to 7am with exception to government and private employees on showing identity cards. He also ordered that all shops and establishments would open only till 6pm and they would remain shut on Sunday. No roadside eateries would be allowed. The order was issued on Tuesday.
In Kishanganj, no shops are allowed to open in town area where large number of cases surfaced in the last few days. DM Aditya Prakash said essential services and shops selling fruits, food, milk and few other products are open. “Public transport is allowed but with people wearing mask. Restrictions will remain till 8am on Friday,” Prakash said.
(With Inputs from Thirthraj Kushwaha in Bagaha)