Telangana CM KCR to decide on lockdown extension today

Lockdown In Telangana: Continuation of lockdown for another two weeks, partial opening of eateries and limited permits to resume malls' operations are likely among the important decisions to be taken by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao at the high-level meeting to be held on Wednesday. This would mean that the formation day celebrations will be a low-key affair.

The Government has received several representations from hotel managements seeking permission to opening tiffin centres, eateries and food supply chains. Nearly, one lakh workers depend on food industry in Hyderabad alone.

Similarly, big malls are also urging the government to relax the rules. as over 20,000 people were struggling hard ever since the malls shut their operations. Official sources said that CM is ready to lift the ban on the closure of trade activities where people movement is more provided they are ready to strictly implement the protocols.

The experience so far has been that the relaxations given so far seem to have given an impression among people that all is over and life is back to normal. People have been ignoring implementation of Covid-19 protocols even during curfew time from 7 pm to 7 am is causing serious concern. Many vehicles are seen on road even as late as 9.30 pm. Salons are not following the strict guidelines saying that they cannot afford to buy the equipment like thermal guns and disposable cloth.

Official sources said permitting interstate public transport mainly plying the RTC buses to other states will also figure in the meeting. However, the problem here is: Will it be possible to ensure that the passengers are not corona virus carriers. Can they check every passenger as is being done at airports and send them to quarantine. If not will it not result in surge in cases, fears the government. This becomes important in the wake of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu registering the highest number of cases.