Lucknow: Hours after the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted an interim stay on the Allahabad High Court order directing lockdown in five cities of Uttar Pradesh in the backdrop of the worsening Covid-19 situation, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government has announced a weekend lockdown.
The lockdown will come into effect at 8 pm on Friday and will continue till 7 am on Monday. The state has also announced to continue the night curfew orders in all districts and only essential services would be allowed.
Additional Chief Secretary Home Awanish K Awasthi said that the coronavirus curfew will remain in force from Friday night till Monday morning and it will be strictly observed. "The Chief Minister has given the order to impose night curfew in every district," Awasthi said.
Watch: People flock liquor shops after lockdown announcement
On Monday, the Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to close all establishments private or government-run in these cities. The High Court had pulled the government for its lack of response emphasizing that the medical system could collapse, if urgent measures are not taken.
Meanwhile, the state has recorded 17,066 new coronavirus cases and 167 deaths in the last 24 hours.
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