COVID-19 crisis: Main markets in Lucknow closed for few days
What's the story
Most of the main markets in Lucknow, including Hazratganj and Aminabad, were voluntarily closed by traders for a few days on Thursday to check the spread of COVID-19 and break its chain.
In the last 24-hours, Uttar Pradesh has recorded 20,510 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the tally to 7,44,021 cases. Lucknow has a staggering 31,687 COVID-19 active cases.
Essential services
Essential services may continue as per government directions
Vinod Punjabi, Secretary, Hazratganj Traders Association said, "In the wake of an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, we have decided to voluntarily close the market for sales from April 15 to April 18. We will review this on Sunday evening."
"Essential services may, however, continue as per government directions," he added.
Information
Traders in other parts of Lucknow also closing shops
Several traders' bodies in Aminabad, including Jhandewala Park Vyapar Mandal, State Bank Vyapar Mandal, and Dildar Vyapar Mandal, have decided to close their business from April 15 to April 21. In Varanasi as well, attempts were on to motivate traders to close their shops.
Traders' statements
'It is our duty to break the virus chain'
"Even as the marriage season is on alongside festivals of Navratri and Ramzan, we have decided to close our establishments because saving lives is more important," said Sandeep Bansal, President of Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Mandal.
"Though there was no announcement of a lockdown from the government, it was the duty of traders to put an effort in breaking the virus chain," he added.
Lucknow
We are appealing to traders to shut businesses: Bansal
Bansal said, "Chowk and Gomti Nagar Sarrafa (jewelers) associations have decided to close the market from April 15 to 18. Lucknow Electric Merchants' Association has also decided to close its establishments from Thursday for a week."
Uttar Pradesh Vyapar Mandal President Sanjay Gupta said that they were appealing to traders to shut businesses for some time as they have a social responsibility.
Information
Trader bodies also put forward important suggestions
Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh said that on Thursday he held a meeting with office-bearers of various traders' bodies and asked them to come forward and close their shops for some time.
"These organizations gave important suggestions that will be considered. The traders accepted the appeal and assured that they will support the police administration," he said.
Night curfew
State orders schools shut, enforces night curfew
Meanwhile, in light of the recent spike in infections, the UP government has ordered the closure of all schools till April 30.
The government has also imposed other curbs to contain the outbreak during Navratri and Ramzan.
A night curfew has been imposed in all districts with more than 500 active cases. The curfew has already been imposed in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, etc.