A detailed order regarding the curfew will be released by 4pm tomorrow (File)
Panaji:
Goa today announced a fortnight-long statewide curfew to contain the deadly surge of the coronavirus. Effective from May 9, the curfew and will be in force till May 23.
Essential services, including medical supplies, will be allowed. Grocery shops will be allowed to remain open from 7am-1pm, while eating out is banned takeaways will be allowed from 7am-7pm.
“The positivity rate and death rate are increasing in the state. There is no shortage of oxygen and medicines in the state. A detailed order regarding the state-level curfew will be released by 4pm tomorrow,” said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
A Reuters report this week quoted two government-appointed medical officials, working at the state’s COVID-19 data collection centre, saying the positivity rates in tests since April were between 40% to 51% – the highest in the country.
The BJP-ruled state has eschewed calling it a lockdown, instead preferring the term curfew.
The state had earlier announced a 10-day night curfew from April 21-30.
Prime Minister Modi, in his address to the nation last month, had underscored the importance of Covid-appropriate behaviour to stem the spread of infections. He also called upon states to focus on micro containment zones to limit the virus spread and go for lockdowns as an absolute last resort.
The country has recorded over 20 million infections since the start of the pandemic, the second-highest in the world after the United States, and over 2-lakh deaths.