Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 19

The Punjab government on Thursday decided to discontinue public transport in the state as a preventive step against novel coronavirus.

Buses, auto-rickshaws and tempos will not be allowed to ply in the state from the midnight intervening Friday and Saturday.

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The decision was made after a group of ministers met on Thursday to review the state’s preparedness amid the pandemic. It decided to limit public gathering to 20 people.

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Punjab has reported two coronavirus cases. One person, who had a travel history to Germany and Italy, died due to the disease on Wednesday. The state’s capital, Chandigarh, also reported its first positive case on Wednesday evening.

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Of 1,187 quarantined in Punjab, only 115 persons tested