<span style="color: #333333;">In view of rising COVID-19 cases in Punjab, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a series of emergency measures, including extension of weekend lockdown in all 167 cities and towns in the state and daily night curfew from 7 pm till 5 am. The measures will take effect from today.<br />''<br />''The decisions were taken by the Chief Minister during a virtual meeting with top officials to review the Covid situation. As part of emergency measures to deal with COVID-19, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also ordered a complete ban on all gatherings except weddings and funerals across the state till 31st of this month. The Government and private offices will work at 50 per cent capacity till the end of this month<br />''<br />''The Chief Minister also directed the concerned officials to restrict public visitors to government offices and to encourage the use of an online grievance redressal system.<br />''<br />''In the five worst affected districts of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and SAS Nagar in Mohali, restrictions on vehicular capacity have been imposed again, with buses and other public transport to operate with 50 percent capacity and private four-wheelers not allowed to carry more than three passengers per vehicle.<br />''<br />''The Chief Minister has also directed the deputy commissioners in these five districts to allow only 50 percent of the non-essential shops to open on a daily basis to check crowding. These five districts are currently accounting for 80 percent of the active case load in the state.<br />''<br />''Mr Singh also directed Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to strictly enforce compliance of directions. He also asked the DGP to crack the whip on all political protests and gatherings, and asked his own party, Punjab Congress, leadership to enforce the ban strictly.<br />''<br />''Pointing to the 920 coronavirus deaths reported in the state so far, the Chief Minister said each death pains me, and the projections for the coming weeks are grim.<br />''<br />''The Chief Minister said the state was in an 'health emergency' situation, necessitating harsh measures, which might have to be further intensified in the coming days to curb the spread of COVID-19. </span> <br />''<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #333333;">In Mizoram too, the State Government has extended the ongoing total lockdown in Aizawl municipal area till 4.30 a.m. on 24th of August. The decision has been taken in view of the extensive contact tracing necessitated by the detection of new COVID-19 cases in the last few days.  <br />''<br />''In an order issued by the Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuango said that the decision has also been taken to do more random sample tests to sustain the containment efforts.<br />''<br />''The total lockdown in Aizawl municipal area was imposed on Sunday for the next four days till today morning to contain the spread of the Coronavirus infections.<br />''<br />''In the state, the total number of COVID-19 cases has reached 895. According to the official statement, 22 new Coronavirus cases were detected and 18 patients recovered in the past 24 hours. So far, 402 patients have been discharged after recovery and presently 493 patients are undergoing treatment.</span><br />