The state government will not resort to a lockdown across Jharkhand in view of the spike in the coronavirus cases but may re-impose shutdowns in districts that see a steep rise in Covid-19 cases in a bid to avert community transmission, ministers have indicated.

State finance minister Rameshwar Oraon said that the government was aware that a state-wide lockdown could have a detrimental effect on the economy and livelihood of residents.

“We will identify the districts that have witnessed an unprecedented increase in Covid cases and think of imposing a complete lockdown only in those districts,” he told The Telegraph Online on Thursday.

The decision, Oraon said, will be taken only if the trend of rapid increase in cases continues for a considerable period of time in a particular district.

“We know the adverse effects of a lockdown on the economy and livelihood, so a statewide lockdown is out of the question. Having said that, the wellbeing of our people is paramount and we may have to impose a lockdown in some districts,” said Oraon, who also happens to be the state chief of Congress party, a partner in the ruling government.

Jharkhand witnessed a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the past couple of days. State water resources minister Mithilesh Thakur and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Mathura Mahto tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday and are undergoing treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

As a fallout, chief minister Hemant Soren decided to quarantine himself at home on Wednesday, and the JMM party office was locked. Besides, several cops, including 27 from Ranchi alone, tested positive for the virus this week.

State rural development minister Alamgir Alam on Thursday said that the government was keeping an eye on all the happenings, and it may take a call on re-imposition of lockdown if fresh Covid-19 cases keep surfacing in large numbers. “We may take a call depending on the situation,” said Alam.

However, chief secretary Sukhdeo Singh said that he had not received any official intimation on the re-imposition of a lockdown as of now. “I have not received any such intimation so far,” he said.

Jharkhand is still recovering from the jolts of the nationwide lockdown, which was imposed on March 25 in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, officials have said. The state's coffers were empty when the lockdown was imposed, and the government was planning steps to generate revenue. The lockdown added insult to injury as the government had to shut down all businesses including liquor sale, one of the major revenue generators for the state, a highly placed source in the excise department said.