Punjab extends COVID19 restrictions till June 15

Punjab government has decided to extend the COVID19 restrictions till June 15 with some relaxations including permission to keep shops open till 6 pm and operations of private firms with 50 percent staff strength.

Chandigarh: Punjab government on Monday announced the extension of Covid restrictions in the state till June 15 with certain relaxations. Shops will be allowed to remain open till 6 pm and private offices to function at 50 percent strength. Night curfew will remain in force from 7 pm to 6 am on weekdays, including Saturdays, but regular weekend curfew will continue on Sundays, the Chief Minister announced.

Taking cognisance of the exceptional commitment and hard work of the staff at medical colleges in the fight against the Covid19 pandemic, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said they will be paid for in lieu of their cancelled vacations. "The staff members of medical colleges have not been able to avail their summer and winter vacation during the pandemic period, and would have been deprived of this facility," the Chief Minister pointed out. "These faculty members need to be compensated for their service and sacrifice," he said, adding that the government had decided to give them full credit for their cancelled vacation periods.

The government also decided to give priority to vaccination to students who need to fly out of Punjab for academic reasons. At a high-level Covid review meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Health and Medical Education departments to allow districts to use up to 10 percent of the doses for 18 to 45 group for priority categories other than those approved at the state level. Besides students seeking to go abroad, caregivers of elderly persons and other urgent priority groups may be included in this list, he added

Singh also announced the government's decision to form a group of specialists in Paediatrics to frame protocols and handhold private hospitals for enhancing pediatric beds and treatment protocols, while rolling out a detailed action plan in preparation of a possible third wave of Covid in the state. The Group will comprise specialists from GMCs, Department of Health, PGI & IAP Punjab Chapter, said the Chief Minister, while directing the Health and Medical Education departments to put into action a comprehensive plan to deal with the next wave.