Telangana govt issues orders to extend lockdown till May 7
"Government of Telangana is of the view that strictlockdown measures that have been implemented in the statesince March 22 have played an important role in slowing downthe spread of COVID-19 in the state.
It is, therefore, necessary that stringent measuresshould continue to be in place to consolidate the containmentmeasures in the state. In view of this, it is decided thatlockdown measures as already in force in Telangana shall applytill May 7 in the state," a Government Order issued on Sundaysaid.
As part of the exercise to contain COVID-19 spread,the Centre has issued detailed guidelines listing activitiesthat will remain prohibited across the country until May 3.
Apart from activities that were permitted during thelockdown till April 14, the new guidelines provide for certainadditional activities to be permitted from April 20.
As on Sunday, Telangana reported 858 coronaviruspositive cases, with 651 active patients.
As many as 21 have died due to coronavirus, while 186have been discharged for hospitals after recovery.
No activities will be allowed in containment zones,except delivery of essential goods/services and there will bestrict perimeter control in the zones to ensure that there isno unchecked inward or outward movement of people except formaintaining essential services such as medical emergencies,the GO said.
"All religious places/places of worship shall beclosed for public in order to prevent congregations leading tospread of the COVID-19 and religious congregations shall bestrictly prohibited," it said.
E-Commerce companies and app-based online platformsshall not deliver cooked food the duration of the lockdown,Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar said in the order.
The Chief Secretary, in his capacity as Chairperson,State Executive Committee, issued directions to allgovernment departments, Collectors, Commissioners orSuperintendents of Police in the state to strictly implementthe lockdown orders with immediate effect till May 7.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, TelanganaChief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao ordered the landlords ofhouses to defer the rent for March, April and May and not tocollect interest for having deferred the payment of rent.
A complaint can be made against house-owners bycalling '100' if they caused trouble, he had said.
Talking about private schools, he said such schoolsshould not increase fees even by one paise for 2020-21academic year, he said.
The chief minister had said the 87.50 lakh ration cardholders would get 12 kg of rice per person free of cost.
Similarly, the government will also give Rs 1,500 perfamily for purchase of vegetables and other essential items inMay, he said.