Telangana, joining the list of growing states, has enforced a 10-day lockdown from tomorrow amid a surge in coronavirus cases. The relaxation period for all activities is only between 6 am-10am.
"The State Cabinet has decided to impose lockdown for 10 days starting 10 am tomorrow. The lockdown will be relaxed from 6 am to 10 am daily for all the activities. The Council of Ministers has also decided to invite global tenders for procuring Covid19 vaccine," read a tweet from the Chief Minister's Office.
The decision is at variance with Chief Minister KCR's earlier stand, as pointed out by Asaduddin Owaisi in a tweet today, that there will be no lockdown as it results in financial stagnation.
Earlier in the day, Bhatti Vikrmarka, Congress Legislature Party leader, had demanded that a 14-day lockdown be imposed in the state.
Last Friday, videos emerged on social media showing a huge gathering in Hyderabad for prayers on the last Friday of the Ramzan month for Muslims amid the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just hours later, the Telangana government banned large gatherings to minimise Covid risks.
From tomorrow, apart from Andhra - where there is a partial curfew - all other southern states would be in lockdown. There is lockdown in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka till May 24. In Kerala, the shutdown period is till May 16.
Most states have taken to lockdown as a measure to stem the spread of infections. India is battered by a deadly second wave of coronavirus that has overwhlemed its hospitals and there is a dire shortage of medical oxygen and critical drugs needed to treat Covid patients.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised states to use lockdowns as an absolute last resort and focus on micro-containment zones and Covid-appropriate behaviour to break the chain of transmission.
Telangana registered 4,826 positive cases and 32 deaths on Monday. It has crossed the 5-lakh COVID-19 infections.
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