Night Curfew in AP postponed to Jan. 18 for Sankranti festival

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday postponed the implementation of the night curfew for a week in view of the Sankranti festival. The night curfew would be imposed from January 18 and remain in force till January 31, according to a GO issued by the principal secretary to the government Anil Kumar Singhal on Tuesday.

The GORT 20 was first issued to impose the night curfew with immediate effect, but later the government revised the GO to enforce the night curfew from January 18.

Minister for health, family welfare and medical education Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas alias Nani said the implementation of the curfew was postponed to avoid inconvenience to the people as large numbers of people from the towns were flocking to the villages during the festival season.

He said the government was ready to deal with the Covid-19 third wave. He appealed to people to wear masks without fail and violation of the mask rule would incur a fine of Rs 100. He requested the people to cooperate with the government to contain the pandemic.

According to the revised GO, exemptions during the period of night curfew will apply for hospitals, diagnostic labs, pharmacies. print and electronic media, telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting services, IT and IT-enabled services; petrol pumps, power generation, transmission and distribution, water supply and sanitation; government officers /officials including officers of Andhra Pradesh High Court and other courts, urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions on emergency duty, all medical personnel; pregnant women and patients for the purpose of receiving medical care.

Further exemptions are also given to persons coming from or going to airports, railway stations, bus stands on the production of a valid ticket. All inter-state and intra-state movement of goods will be permitted.

Those not wearing masks would be fined and Covid restrictions are enforced in all shops, malls, and business establishments across the state. Shops and other commercial establishments allowing people inside without a mask will attract a penalty of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.

The GO disallows congregations of more than 200 people in public places, while only 100 people are allowed to meet indoors. Theatres should function at 50 per cent capacity leaving one seat between each other and masks should be worn all the time in the cinema halls.

The government instructed that Covid protocol should be followed in all religious places where physical distancing should be observed and compulsory wearing of masks. Wearing masks is mandatory in public transportation as well.