Rajasthan imposes night curfew in eight districts to curb COVID-19, increases fine for not wearing mask

Jaipur: Amid spiralling COVID-19 cases, the Rajasthan cabinet on Saturday decided to impose night curfew in 8 districts and increased the fine amount on not wearing a face mask from Rs 200 to Rs 500, an official release said. Those venturing out to attend marriages, purchase essentials, train, bus and air travellers, and people related to essential services will be exempted, it said. The cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met on Saturday night decided that a curfew will be clamped from 8 pm to 6 am in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Bhilwara, it said. Markets, restaurants, shopping malls and other commercial establishments in the urban areas of these districts will be closed by 7 pm and night curfew will start from 8 pm, it added. A maximum of 75 percent employees will be called for duty in government and private offices in these districts where the number of employees is 100 or more. The staff will work on a rotation basis, the release said. In marriages, religious, social, cultural functions and political events, only 100 people will be allowed. The cabinet also decided that day care treatment facilities in private hospitals will be available on a rate fixed by the state government. It was informed in the meeting that hospitals attached with private medical colleges can now be acquired for making them dedicated COVID facilities if required, it said. Also, the medical and health department will conduct door-to-door surveys in areas reporting a high number of cases, the release said. The number of coronavirus cases in the state has increased to around 3,000 per day in November.