The entire State is under lockdown with the objective of containing the spread of Covid-19 and hence stringent action as per law will be initiated against those who loiter on the streets without any work, said Deputy Commissioner Y S Patil.

Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, he clarified that both the State and Central governments have directed the administration to deal with an iron hand on those who are seen wandering aimlessly on roads without following the directions given by the governments in the larger interest of the people.

He claimed that the main concern of the government is strictly imposing the ‘indoor stay’ to ensure social distancing aimed at protecting people coming in to contact with those either infected or exhibited signs of the symptoms of Covid-19.

He explained how some people who extend false and frivolous reasons to be seen on the roads and streets to the police and how they mislead the police on duty. He asked people not to fool the police personnel on duty extending false causes to be out of houses. People should stay indoor as they did during the Janata Curfew and thus cooperate with the district administration in its earnest efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.

Necessary measures to close the entry into all religious places have been taken. There will not be any mass prayers anywhere, he said adding that it is better for people to show their obeisance to the almighty being at homes and not by visiting any temple, mosque or churches.

‘Work from home’

He informed that except some government departments, the functioning of most departments is stopped and the officials concerned have
been advised to work from homes.

 Only Health & Family Welfare, Food & Civil Supplies, Internal Administration, Energy Department, Information & Public Relation Departments are allowed to work from their respective offices, while all other government departments are asked to temporarily work from homes.

However, the officials of the departments have been directed not to leave the headquarters for any reasons as the district administration may seek their services at any time without giving any notice, he said.

The deputy commissioner claimed that there is no report of a positive case of Covid-19 in the district till now. He warned mischievous elements of stringent legal action if they tried to spread false rumours that some positive cases are reported in the district.

As many as 182 persons are under home quarantine and the district administration has kept a hawk’s eye on all of them and police are ensuring that they do not move out of their quarantine.

16 check-posts functional

He revealed that 16 of the planned 23 check posts at the entry points of the district have started functioning with teams of officials consisting of the Health, Police and Revenue departments. All vehicles from other States are denied entry in Vijaypur district, he said adding that the restriction applies to MSRTC, KSRTC, and other private vehicles coming from other States.

Private vehicles will be allowed entry in the district in extraordinary circumstances that too after procuring permission from respective tahsildars, he said.

Superintendent of Police Anupam Agarwal, District Health Officer Mahendra Kapse, and others were present.