PATNA: Bihar government on Sunday ordered complete lockdown, with immediate effect, across 38 district headquarters, 101 sub-divisional headquarters and 534 block headquarters in the wake of increasing infection of Covid-19. As of now, the lockdown will remain in effect till March 31.According to a public order issued by principal secretary (health) Sanjay Kumar , the lockdown would remain effective also in all the urban and semi-urban areas which have urban local bodies (ULBs) like municipal corporation, nagar parishad and nagar panchayat Kumar issued the order using his powers under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act-1897.Essential services like medical services in private sector, telcom services, banking and ATM, dairy and dairy-related institutions, food grains and kirana shops, vegetables and fruit shops, medical and surgical items’ shops, petrol pumps and CNG stations, LPG gas agencies, post office and courier services, e-commerce services, electronic and print media, have been kept under exemption from the order.Vehicles being used in service of the exempted services and government vehicles would not come under the purview of the lockdown, the government order says.CM Nitish Kumar said, “The lockdown order was issued keeping in mind protection of common people in Bihar in the wake of increasing infection of Corona virus.”“I make a fervent appeal to all residents in Bihar to extend their full cooperation to the state government’s on-going drive against the deadly corona virus,” Nitish said adding, “Whenever a major crisis came, we registered a victory over the crisis with the cooperation of all people. The state government is with its all people in this hour of crisis.”“Today, entire human race is under the crisis due to corona virus. We are fighting against this epidemic with our all strength. Necessary precautions are also being taken, but it is necessary that all people remain alert in the wake of gravity of this epidemic. Maintaining Social distancing is best solution for this disease,” Bihar CM said and urged people to stay at home and not move here and there unnecessarily.