Complete lockdown in Punjab till March 31

Chandigarh, March 22 (IANS) As a preventing step to counter the coronavirus spread, the Punjab government on Sunday announced complete lockdown across the state till March 31, becoming the second state after Rajasthan for enforcing shutdown.A decision in this regard was taken by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.All essential government services will continue and shops selling essential items such as milk, food items, medicines, etc will be open, the Chief Minister Tweeted."All DCs (Deputy Commissioners) and SSPs (senior Supeintendent of Police) have been directed to implement the restrictions immediately," he added.However, there will be no ban on essential services.Earlier, there was a lockdown in some coronavirus-hit districts.
--IANS vg/dpb