The Jharkhand government notified the extension of the ongoing partial lockdown by another week on Wednesday, stating that all restrictions and relaxations mentioned in its earlier order would continue to remain in force.

Following the extension, the partial shutdown, or health safety week, that was to end on June 24, will be in force till 6 am of July 1. This also means that the state will observe the third edition of the a complete weekend lockdown between the evening of June 26 (Saturday) and early morning on June 28 (Monday).

The order signed by chief secretary Sukhdev Singh read, “The provisions of order number 207 dated June 16 related to observance of Swasthya Suraksha Saptah in the context of Covid-19 shall stand extended from 6am on June 24 till 6am on July 1.”

Chief minister Hemant Soren, while speaking to reporters outside Project Building on Wednesday evening, said the state government was evaluating the situation cautiously before allowing more relaxations.

“Cases are coming down but there are apprehensions of another wave. We don’t know if it will come or not, but we are making our own preparations. It is important to not allow any opportunity for the virus to rear its head again. Hence, we all have to be cautious and follow covid appropriate behavior," he said.

While all major markets and business establishments have been allowed to function till 4 pm, inter and intra-state buses are still not allowed to ply. Restaurants can offer take-away only and cinema halls are still closed. Bus operators, who have been demanding that they be allowed to offer services, appeled to the state government last week, citing heavy losses.