21 coronavirus deaths in Ahmedabad, 267 new patients found
Ahmedabad, May 12 () Ahmedabad reported deaths of21 COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, taking the death toll due tothe pandemic in the district to 421, while the number ofcoronavirus cases rose to 6,353 with 267 new patients beingfound, a health official said.
392 COVID-19 patients were also discharged from thehospitals here, taking the total number of discharged patientsin the district to 5,121.
Civic authorities said that shops selling essentialitems in the city will be allowed to open from May 15.
On May 7, authoritis had imposed a very strictlockdown, allowing only the shops selling milk and medicinesto operate as the number of virus-infection cases keptincreasing alarmingly.
In a release on Tuesday, additional chief secretaryRajiv Gupta, currently overseeing works related to pandemicprevention in Ahmedabad city, said shops selling essentialitems such as groceries, vegetables and fruits will be allowedto open from May 15 provided they follow certain conditions.
"Super-spreaders" including vegetables and fruitvendors and grocery and milk shop owners will have to get"health cards" after undergoing screening for coronavirus, andshops will be allowed to remain open between 8 am and 3 pm, itsaid.
Street vendors will be allowed to sell essentialcommodities at a designated area within a ward.
Shop owners and vendors will have to follow socialdistancing norms and should also try to make paymenttransactions in digital mode though it is not mandatory, therelease said.
To accept cash, they should keep a separate tray so asto avoid physical contact with the customer. Also, vendorsand shop keepers will have to mandatorily wear face masks,hand gloves and use hand sanitisers.
Over a dozen online agenies have been allowed cashlesshome delivery between 10 am and 5 pm, it said. KA PDKRK KRK