Punjab extends night curfew timings in 9 worst-affected districts

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 18

Terming the spread of Covid in Punjab as alarming, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced to extend the time period of night curfew in nine districts from 9 pm to 5 am, instead of the previous 11 pm to 5 am.

He was addressing the media at a function to mark four years of the Congress government in office.

He said he was meeting medical experts in a day to take stock of the situation before announcing further stricter measures to check the spread. “The way the things are going, I fear it requires strict measures like restricting gatherings and punishments.”

The Chief Minister said 2,039 fresh Covid cases and 35 deaths had been reported till Wednesday evening. At least 283 people were on oxygen support.

Also read: 35 more die in Punjab as nation sees 35,871 fresh Covid cases, biggest single-day jump in 102 days

He said the government is looking into a request from Himachal about the movement of people from Punjab to religious sites in Himachal.

He said anti-national activity from across the border had increased after the farmers’ agitation. He cited the use of drones to drop arms and ammunition from across the border. He hoped the Centre would take action to check it.

‘Sidhu to be part of the team soon’

The CM said everyone in the government wanted Navjot Sidhu to be part of the government. “We had a cordial meeting on Wednesday evening. He has sought time to decide about joining the government.”