Andhra Pradesh extends lockdown till June 20

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government has extended the ongoing lockdown up to June 20 with two more hours relaxation up to 2 pm from 6 am in a day to curb spread of Coronavirus in a more effective manner in the state.

At a high-level meeting with health minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas and top officials, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has taken a decision to extend the lockdown up to June 20 as the existing period will be over by June 10. The Chief Minister has also ordered for extension of curfew relaxation time from 6.00 am to 2.00 pm unlike earlier practice of up to 12.00 noon to facilitate economic activity for two more hours and has also directed the authorities to allow working of public/private offices from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm in a day. With this, the curfew period will remain operational from 2.00 pm to 6.00 am of the next day imposing curbs on movement of general public and other activities in the



state.

Even as curfew relaxation timings are extended up to eight hours in a day, the Chief Minister cautioned, “Even though the number of daily Coronavirus infections are dipping, we should be on high alert all the time until the Covid-19 positivity rate comes down further and the Covid-19 situation comes under control. The entire administration should maintain all precautionary measures and no slackness to be allowed to creep in.”

Meanwhile, the officials briefed the Chief Minister about the impending third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic especially targeting the children in the state and also about the expected number of children to be affected. The officials wanted the ongoing nutrition and routine immunisation programmes to be continued for the kids and also explained about the medicines, medical equipment and other requirements to be prepared to face the third wave of the pandemic.