DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Amidst the protest by the different markets associations Manoj Kumar Parida, Adviser to the Administrator has clarified that Chandigarh had to close shops on weekends to prevent shoppers from rushing here. He said that the administration has no plans to disrupt normal functioning of private sector offices,industries,hotels,banks which can operate with social distancing precautions.He said that the fight against the Corona is tough Long battle ahead but there is no plan for total curfew for long period. Parida said that Chandigarh Administration announced closure of all shops and establishments in Chandigarh however, marriage events fixed for this weekend in Chandigarh can continue as only shops/markets are to be closed.Guest limit must be adhered. On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi Parida also requested the people not to immerse Ganesha idols in lakes. He asked them to find an environment friendly alternative. With a record spike of 69,874 infections in a day, India's COVID-19 tally increased to 29,75,701, while the recoveries surged to 22,22,577 pushing the recovery rate to 74.69 per cent on Saturday, according to the Union health ministry data. The death toll climbed to 55,794 with 945 fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.87 per cent, it said.There are 6,97,330 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 23.43 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7. A cumulative total of 3,44,91,073 samples have been tested up to August 21 with 10,23,836 samples being tested on Friday, the highest done in a day so far, Lokesh Sharma, scientist and media coordinator at ICMR said. (editor@dailyworld.in)