Lockdown back in many districts of Vidarbha

Nagpur: Rising number of Covid-19 cases in Amravati has made the administration in all five districts of the division to impose lockdown-like restrictions on public movement. Most parts of Amravati division will follow these restrictions from July 15.
Chandrapur and Wardha in Nagpur division will also go for lockdown-like restrictions. The period of lockdown and rules and regulations differ in every district.
Even as Amravati division is smaller in area and population compared to Nagpur division, it accounts for 55.22% of the total Covid-19 cases and 77% deaths in the region.
Rural areas of Buldhana, Washim, Amravati, and Yavatmal districts have witnessed sudden surge in the number of cases since unlock-I due to people returning from other places. As all these districts have started using rapid antigen tests, number of cases have gone up significantly in the last 10 days.
Talking to TOI about the lockdown strategy, divisional commissioner of Amravati Piyush Singh said, “Amravati District will have lockdown only on weekends. In Washim, two tehsils — Mangrulpir and Risod — will be under lockdown from Tuesday for the next 7 days. In Buldhana, there is lockdown up to July 21 with restricted timings,” he said.
“There is no lockdown in Yavatmal but activities will take place in restricted timings from 10am to 2pm. In Akola, there will be lockdown on coming weekend and Monday,” he added.
On July 14, Amravati collector Shailesh Naval issued an order bringing down the number of marriage attendees to 25, including bride and groom, from earlier 50 in wedding halls. Violation of this will invite a fine of Rs25,000 on the wedding hall owner.
Washim will not allow people from other districts to enter without travel passes, neither residents of Washim will be allowed to move out without any emergency. “Risod and Mangarulpir tehsils will observe complete lockdown. Timings of shops have been rescheduled in other tehsils,” said district collector Hrishikesh Modak.
In Yavatmal, district collector MD Singh announced restricted timings of shops from July 15. Establishments including essential shops will remain open from 10am to 2pm. Only hospitals and medical stores will remain open as per their schedules.
In Buldhana, lockdown is already in place from July 7 and will continue till July 21. Shops are allowed to stay open only between 9am to 3pm.
In Chandrapur also, district collector Dr Kunal Khemnar has announced complete lockdown for four days between July 17 and 20 in light of rising number of Covid-19 patients. No outsider will be allowed in the city during the period.
As the recent spread of Covid-19 cases was due to a marriage function, Wardha district collector Vivek Bhimanwar has imposed strict restrictions on such functions. Only 20 guests are now allowed for marriages in Wardha.
Gondia, Buldhana, Gadchiroli and Nagpur districts have not issued any additional measures or lockdown till now.
Locked again
Amravati: Total lockdown on weekends, only 25 guests for wedding
Akola: Total lockdown on July 18, 19, 20
Yavatmal: Shops open only from 10am to 2pm from July 15
Buldhana: Lockdown up to July 21, shops open only from 9am to 3pm
Washim: Lockdown from July 15 to 31; restrictions differ as per tehsils
Chandrapur: Complete lockdown from July 17 to 20
Wardha: Restrictions on marriage functions, only 20 guests allowed