Image Source: TRIBUNE

As the Centre on Sunday announced a lockdown in 75 districts including, Jammu and Srinagar, administration of the Union Territory (UT) of J&K directed all deputy commissioners (DCs) to ensure shutdown of all establishments and services, except essential commodities and services, till March 31.

The order was issued by Chief Secretary BVR Subramanayam.

Till Sunday, 3,938 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance. As of now, only four cases have tested positive.

As a large number of students and travellers are returning to their homes after the increasing Coronavirsus cases worldwide, authorities have requested them give correct travel history in self-declaration formats, provided at designated help desk counters when they arrive in the UT by air, rail or road. This would safeguard their own health, that of their families and public in large.

Meanwhile, in view of the situation arising due to Covid, Simrandeep Singh, Secretary of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, issued an order declaring 16 services as essential services and commodities.

According to the order, the essential services will include supply of groceries (wholesalers and retailers), supply of fresh fruits and vegetables (mandis and retailers), dispensing of petrol/diesel at pumps, milk shops and dairies and related products, supply of cattle feed and fodder, medicines and other pharmaceuticals (retailers, wholesalers and manufacturing), banks and ATMs, supply of LPG (domestic and commercial), health services (including movement of staff thereof), manufacturing of health and medical equipment, telecom operators and their designated agencies, newspapers, post offices, loading and unloading of wheat and rice at FCI and state food depots, transportation of essential commodities through national and state highways (petrol, diesel, kerosene, milk, vegetables, fruits, groceries, FCI supplies etc) and provision of electricity, water supply and municipal and sanitary services (including movement of staff thereof).