No total lockdown on this weekend

There will be no total lockdown in Chhattisgarh in the coming, last weekend of May, the government has decided, while announcing more freedom for shops and businesses and detailed guidelines to improve the quality of life in its quarantine camps.

This follows a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to discuss the developing situation vis-a-vis the Covid-19 pandemic.

The total lockdown on Saturday and Sunday till the end of May has been now cancelled. There will be no crippling of life on May 30-31.

Barring shops restricted by the central and state governments, all others will open six days a week, from 7am to 7pm.

Shops and commercial establishments will do normal business but precautionary measures will be mandatory besides the prescribed time-limit and weekly off.

Crowded market places will see local arrangements to check the spread of coronavirus. Local administrations will decide the time and place for street vendors.

Except in containment zone, all government offices in districts will henceforth     operate.

Commercial auto-rickshaws and taxis will ply from May 28, according to the Transport Department.

But inter-state commercial bus and taxi services have been suspended until further notice. Inter-state transport will need E-Pass.

Vehicles which run should not have more passengers than their capacity, and everyone commuting will wear face masks and keep physical distancing.

While the Health Department will identity the Red and Orange zones, the containment zone limits will be decided by District Collectors.

The high-level meeting took decisions to improve the conditions in quarantine centres which are mainly housing workers who returned to Chhattisgarh from other states.

The opposition has been harping on the alleged poor state of affairs in these centres, where at least two people have died due to snakebite.

Proper security measures will be taken at the quarantine camps. The inmates won't be allowed to sleep in verandah.

Unsafe quarantine centers will be shifted to safe buildings and places. Coolers and additional fans will be arranged in rooms to beat the heat. While maintaining social distancing, yoga training and outdoor activities are to be organized.

Zonal officers have been appointed for each quarantine center to ensure the availability of basic facilities.

People who complete the 14-day stay at quarantine center and are not showing any symptom of the infection will be allowed to go home.

Collectors have been told to arrange for psychologists and counsellors at the centers. Television and radios will entertain the inmates.

Skill mapping of labourers in the quarantine camps is to be done to provide employment. Information about the skills of many workers have been provided during registration.

MNREGA, ration and Shramik cards will be provided to labourers, and their children will be registered for school education.

There will be relaxation from the mandatory quarantine period for people coming for industrial and business activities, if they inform that they are coming for work related to factory maintenance.

Labourers going from one district to another within the state will not be kept in quarantine.

Workers who have gone to other states from Chhattisgarh recently will not get any exemption.

Passengers coming for short duration with confirmed return ticket can also escape quarantine.

Schools should be opened from July 1, the meeting decided, after the buildings are sanitized.

Some old rules continue. A maximum 50 people can attend weddings and a maximum of 20 people can attend a funeral.