COVID-19: Night curfew timing extended in 8 cities of Rajasthan

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government on Wednesday decided to extend the night curfew timing in eight cities including Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwada and Kushalgarh. The curfew will be in effect from 10 pm. All the commercial establishments in these cities will be shut down by 9 pm. Earlier the curfew came into effect from 11 pm.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot presided over a COVID-19 review meeting. The decision to extend the night curfew timing was taken during the meeting. The schools for students of up to class 8 will also likely be closed, sources said.

If the COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the state, the government may also impose restrictions on coaching institutes and swimming pools.

After the meeting, chief minister Gehlot said that ‘No Mask – No Entry’ protocol will be strictly imposed. Action will be taken against shopkeepers who sell items to people without masks. People violating social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines will be penalized by teams of local civic bodies and police.

A senior medical and health department official said that night curfew had been very effective in containing the spread of the virus in the past.

“The government is forced to take these measures because people are not following the COVID-19 guidelines. A very few people wear masks,” said the officer.