The state government has decided to relax the curfew hours from 5.30 am to 7 am daily from Monday onwards to facilitate the senior citizens and general public for morning walks.This was disclosed by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Chief Medical Officers through video conference in the wake of corona pandemic from here today.The state government has also decided to give relaxation in curfew for four hours instead of the existing three hours. This would not only ensure social distancing but also minimum crowding in the shops.The Chief Minister said that the curfew has adversely affected the economy of the State and thus it was vital to chalk out an appropriate action plan to revive the economic activities post lockdown from 3 May onwards.Jai Ram Thakur said that the all possible help would be provided to the people stranded outside the State. He said that it must be ensured that the people willing to come back to the State must be facilitated but at the same time, it must be ensured that once they enter the State, they should be medically examined thoroughly and kept in institutional or home quarantine, as the situation demands. He said that all the Gram Panchayats must be provided information regarding such persons and they must be asked to ensure that the concerned person do not jump the quarantine. He said that the safety and well being of the people of the State was very vital for him and all efforts must be made to ensure that people do not face any inconvenience in coming back to their state.He said that the students of the State who are coming back from other states should also be medically examined and kept in home quarantine.
Similarly, the people of other states stranded in Himachal Pradesh must also be facilitated to go to their respective States. He said that it must be ensured that the people entering the state be asked to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile phones.Jai Ram Thakur said that the concerned Deputy Commissioner's must also ensure that all the private hospitals and clinics in their jurisdictions function smoothly. For this, they should not be forced to have a curfew pass but even the identity card of the head of such institutions must be honoured. He said that this would not only help in providing health care facilities to the people but also lessen burden on major government hospitals.The Chief Minister said that the state government has decided to allow inter-district movement of trucks carrying construction material from mining sites to project areas. The government has also allowed inter-district movement of road construction machinery to the construction sites. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to allow movement of concerned field staff of the Public Works Department to the construction sites. He said that works under MNREGA must be allowed by maintaining social distancing.Chief Secretary Anil Khachi said that the people reaching Himachal from other states must be sensitized regarding the preventive measures to be taken to check spread of coronavirus. He said that the passes given by other district magistrates from other States must be honoured to facilitate the people of the State.Director General of Police S.R. Mardi said that people must be motivated and asked to wear mask or face cover in public places.Principal Secretary, PWD J.C. Sharma said that labourers of PWD contractors must be allowed movement to facilitate construction and maintenance of roads.Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu said that passes for inter-district movement, particularly in green districts must be given more liberally.Additional Chief Secretaries Manoj Kumar and R.D. Dhiman, Principal Secretary Onkar Sharma and other senior officers attended the meeting.