COVID-19: Telangana imposes night curfew till May 1

Hyderabad: A night curfew, restricting free movement from 9 pm to 5 am, will be in place across Telangana, beginning on Tuesday night and continuing till 5 am on May 1.

The curfew, which is in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the State came into vogue after the government on Tuesday issued GO No 87 with immediate effect.

The night curfew will be implemented in accordance with a Ministry of Home Affairs order on March 23 laying down guidelines for effective control of Covid-19 providing for States to impose local restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.

As per the guidelines, all offices, firms, shops, establishments, restaurants etc. have to close at 8 pm. Hospitals, diagnostic labs, pharmacies and those dealing with supply of essential services are exempted from this deadline.

Those that come under the category of essential services include print and electronic media, telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services, IT and IT enabled services, delivery of all goods through e-commerce, petrol pumps, LPG, CNG, petroleum and gas outlets, power generation, transmission and distribution, water supply and sanitation, cold storage and warehousing services, private security services, and production units or services which require continuous process.

As per the orders, movement of all persons will be prohibited from 9 pm onwards except those involved in the above mentioned activities, Central and State government officials including those of urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions on emergency duty on production of valid identity card, all private medical personnel such as doctors, nursing staff, paramedics and providers of other hospital services etc., on production of valid identity card, pregnant women and patients for the purpose of receiving medical care, and persons coming from or going to airports, railway stations, bus stands on production of valid ticket.

Most importantly, there will be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement or transportation of essential and non-essential goods. No separate permission or pass will be required for such movement. Public transport services including autos and taxis will be allowed to function within the stipulated time for the transportation of the above mentioned categories of people during the period of the night curfew, the GO said.

Violation of the curfew could result in prosecution under Sections 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act 2005 and Section 188 of IPC as well as other applicable laws, according to the GO issued by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar.

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