KCR extends shutdown deadline to 31 March, 18 checks posts along state-border

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on 19 March, extended the deadline for the shutdown of cinema halls, amusement parks, swimming pools, bars and pubs, indoor/outdoor stadiums, gymnasiums, zoo parks, museums, and marriage halls till 31 March.

On 14 March, KCR had announced the shutdown of the above establishments till 21 March. However, all educational institutions in the state will remain closed till 31 March, as announced earlier. The ban on rallies, public meetings, summer camps, events where large gatherings are expected like conferences, workshops, trade fairs, cultural and sports events, and jatharas will also be in force till 31 March.

The CM held an emergency meeting on Thursday with collectors and SPs of all districts at Pragathi Bhavan to take stock of the Coronavirus situation in the state after eight positive cases were detected in a single day on Wednesday. Ministers and senior officials of all departments attended the meeting.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the CM said the government has decided to cancel the upcoming Rama Navami and Ugadi celebrations in the state to prevent the mass gathering of devotees and prevent the spread of Coronavirus. He said all religious places in the state like temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras, will also remain closed for devotees as the heads of all religious institutions have assured the government that they will not allow devotees till the situation improves.

The CM has also announced the setting up of 18 special check-posts along Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh borders. "This is to regulate the movement of people and also conduct tests to identify whether anyone has been infected. In the Karimnagar incident where eight positive cases were detected, they all came into our state crossing state borders. The special check-posts will prevent such incidents in the future," the CM said.