Three days lockdown in UP

As the COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh are spiraling out of control, the state government will be imposing lockdown, starting at 10pm tonight. Only essential services will be allowed.

The order, issued by State Chief Secretary R K Tiwari to the district and police administration on Friday, said the restrictions are being imposed to control the spread of covid-19 and communicable diseases like malaria, encephalitis, dengue.

Government and private offices, shops for non-essential items, malls and restaurants will be shut. Buses and other transport will be off the roads. The lockdown will be lifted at 5am on Monday.

The other exceptions will be factories in rural areas and work on roads-highways and expressways.

The government will allow incoming trains and the passengers will be able to use special buses to get home.

This is the first time the state government is going for a blanket lockdown since the Centre started lifting the restrictions in May. Earlier, the state had enforced extra restrictions in pockets and containment areas and sealed borders with Delhi at Ghaziabad and Noida.

Uttar Pradesh so far had more than 30,000 cases of coronavirus, of which more than 20,000 patients have recovered, 845 patients have died. Uttar Pradesh has one of the lowest rates of testing.