COVID-19: Restrictions on movement on people continue in Kashmir

The restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in Kashmir continued for the 29th consecutive day on Thursday, even as officials said the lockdown would be implemented strictly across the Valley till May 3 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in Kashmir continued on Thursday, the officials said.

They said the security forces sealed off main roads in most places in the valley and erected barriers at several other places to check the unwanted movement of the people and to enforce the lockdown.

Only persons with valid passes were allowed to move, they added.

The declared containment or red zones across the valley have been sealed off to ensure strict adherence to the standard operating procedure.

The officials said the Centre has directed the union territory administration to continue implementing lockdown restrictions strictly for the extended period till May 3 as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

They said the restrictions would be implemented strictly and stringent action would be taken against the violators.

Markets across the valley were shut and public transport was off the roads with only pharmacies and groceries allowed to open, the officials said.

They said the essential services including healthcare personnel have been exempted from the restrictions.

The total number of positive cases in the union territory has risen to 300. Four patients have died and 20 have recovered.

More than 56,000 people have been kept under surveillance including those who are either in government established quarantine facilities or in home isolation.

"Till date 56,595 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance which include 7,784 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 270 in hospital quarantine, 260 in hospital isolation and 30,228 under home surveillance. Besides, 18,049 persons have completed their surveillance period of 28 days," the officials said.