BHOPAL: Discussions on unlocking have begun, since the Covid pandemic has come under control. The number of corona cases was less than 5,000 on Thursday.
As the cases are declining, peopleís representatives are mounting pressure on the administration to let the markets and shops reopen.
Many officers are in favor of beginning the unlocking process as early as possible. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is, however, opposed to taking a hasty decision on the matter.
A few members of the Covid-19 core committee want unlocking in some districts from May 24. Chouhan wants to keep the state under corona curfew for one week more. He wants unlocking from May 31.
The Chief Minister is taking every step with caution that a hasty decision may lead to the rise in cases.
The positivity rate is less than three per cent in Khandwa, Burhanpur, Guna, Jhabua and in a few other districts. The crisis management committees in these places are in favour of opening the markets.
The problem before the administration is that once the curfew is lifted, people will come out of their homes in rural areas. This may lead to rise in cases again.
Therefore, the Chief Minister and the health department want that the curfew continue for a few more days.
In the first phase of unlocking, the government favours reopening of the offices with minimum staff.
There is a plan to reopen the markets for half day. The officials are mulling over this plan.
State governmentís spokesperson, Narottam Mishra, says the markets will be reopened phase-wise with the suggestions of the crisis management committees.
A decision on the matter will be taken soon, he says.
(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)
