Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday declared lockdown in the state with effect from 2 pm on Tuesday to March 31, 2020.
The announcement of lockdown comes as preventive measures against any possible outbreak of coronavirus which has affected many states of India as well as several countries across the world.
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All inter-state buses to and from Agartala have been banned while all domestic flights will come to a halt from Wednesday.
However, petrol pumps, grocery and pharmacies will remain open during the lockdown period.
Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb made the announcement of lockdown during a press conference on Monday evening.
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He also says 15 days’ rations will be provided to the priority group people free of cost.
The Tripura chief minister also informed that a special Cabinet meeting was held on Monday evening where several decisions were taken by the state government.
Chief minister Biplab Deb said, “If any doctor or medical staff member gets infected by coronavirus during treatment of a patient, then Rs. 4 lakh will be given to the doctor’s family.”
He also said 3,95,000 social pension beneficiaries will get two months’ advance allowance while Antyodaya, Annapurna, priority group members will get free ration for the next 15 days (total 5.86 lakh families).
The Tripura chief minister also said the children, who receive mid-day meal, will get 15 days’ rice and daal in their respective homes.
“The Anganwadi children and pregnant women will also get their food grains at home,” announced the Tripura chief minister.
Appealing to all for co-operation as we have decided for a complete lockdown in Tripura from 2 PM tomorrow till 5 PM of March 31. CRPC 144 has already been imposed.
Essential services will be exempted from this. I urge everyone to co-operate with us in this fight against #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/xlWAchOrpK— Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) March 23, 2020
He further informed that 10 days’ works will be given to the MGNGREGA beneficiaries, who will work by maintaining social distance and proper hygiene.
The Tripura chief minister also announced roster duty for the state government employees.
“Markets, medicine shops and banks will remain open,” the Tripura CM added.
Meanwhile, the Central government on Monday ordered total lockdown in 19 states in the country in view of the spread of novel coronavirus.
“From midnight of Monday, a total lockdown will come into force in as many 19 states including Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana…,” said Luv Aggrawal, joint secretary to the Union ministry of health and family welfare.
Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla also asked the home secretaries, and DGPs of all states to strictly enforce the lockdown.
“All the states have been asked to take strong action against anybody found guilty in violating the lockdown rules,” officials said.
The lockdown according to the office will be able to break the chain of community transmission by COVID-19.
Till the filing of this report, India registered a total of 476 coronavirus cases with seven deaths due to the pandemic.
India currently is at stage 2 of the pandemic.
“Community transmission of the disease will ensure that we have one to stage 3 of COVID-19 which will be very dangerous,” said a health ministry official.
Significantly, 22 states across India have come under the grasp of COVID-19.
However, there is no report of COVID-19 case recorded in the Northeast.