In Gujarat, the first two cases of the COVID-19 pandemic were confirmed on 19 March 2020 in Rajkot and Surat.
Timeline
March 2020
15 March: Anil Mukim, Chief Secretary of Gujarat, announced the closure of schools, colleges, educational institutes, malls, multiplexes, and swimming pools across the state until March 29 as a precaution against COVID-19. However, the ongoing board examinations for class X and XII were allowed to be conducted. Also, fine of ₹500 was imposed on public spitting in Gujarat.
16 March: Shyamal Tikadar, Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat, announced that the state's national parks, sanctuaries, and conservation reserves will remain closed from March 17 to March 29. Gujarat High Court said it will only take up those matters categorized as urgent until March 31.
17 March: Statue of Unity closed for tourists until March 25. Platform ticket rate increased from ₹10 to ₹50 at 12 railway stations in Gujarat as a preventive measure against COVID-19 by the Western Railway of India.
18 March: Atul Pandya, Director of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad said that the Ashram will remain closed for visitors from March 19 to March 29 to control the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of citizens.
19 March: Gujarat reports first two cases of COVID-19. A 32-year-old man from Rajkot, who returned from Saudi Arabia, and a 21-year-old woman from Surat, who returned from UK, were tested positive.
20 March: Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Gujarat, said no government buses in the state will be working on March 22 in view of the 'Janata Curfew' announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
21 March: As COVID-19 cases increase in the state, Government of Gujarat partially locks down four cities - Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. All shops selling non-essential items in the four cities will remain closed until March 25 and government offices will operate at half strength on rotational basis until March 29. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the new 1,200-bed capacity Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad will be kept exclusively for treating coronavirus patients and would serve as the nodal infection control centre.
22 March: Gujarat reports first COVID-19 death. A 69-year-old man died in Surat. Government of Gujarat extended the partial lockdown to Gandhinagar.
23 March: Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha announced that entire Gujarat will be placed under complete lockdown starting from 12:00 AM of March 24 until March 31. The Gujarat High Court decided to hear "extremely urgent matters" through video conferencing, to ensure social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
24 March: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced complete lockdown in entire country for 21 days starting from March 25 to April 14 as a preventive measure against the COVID-19. All businesses and services in India, except essential ones, were suspended during this period. The Government of Gujarat decided to mass-promote all the students of Class 1 to 9 and Class 11 to the upper standard without examination due to uncertainty over lockdown and spread of COVID-19 in Gujarat.
25 March: Gujarat reports second COVID-19 death. An 85-year-old woman who had returned from Dubai died in Ahmedabad. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that Government of Gujarat would provide food items for free to 60 lakh poor families and 3.25 crore individuals holding ration cards from April 1.
26 March: Gujarat reports third COVID-19 death. A 70-year-old man died in Bhavnagar. Government of Gujarat announced free food doorstep facility for elderly persons staying alone at home during lockdown.
27 March: Out of 44 COVID-19 patients in Gujarat, 18 got infected through local transmission while the rest 26 had travel history. Government of Gujarat launched a mobile app to track home-quarantined persons and announced to provide food and accommodation to migrant workers but would restrict their travel during the 21-day lockdown period.
28 March: Number of cases in Gujarat crossed the 50-mark. Gujarat reports fourth COVID-19 death. A 46-year-old woman died in Ahmedabad. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the Government of Gujarat will grant Rs 25 lakh to the family of any police official who dies while on duty amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
29 March: Gujarat reports first COVID-19 recovery. A 34-year-old woman recovered in Surat. Gujarat reports fifth COVID-19 death. A 47-year-old man died in Ahmedabad. Gujarat ranks second in positive cases after Maharashtra, and ranks highest in mortality rate in India. Government of Gujarat said it will release around 1,200 prisoners for two months on parole and interim bail to reduce jail crowding.
30 March: Government of Gujarat has distributed 8.95 lakh food packets across the state to date. Out of total COVID-19 cases in Gujarat, around 50% cases are result of local transmission, 2 cases indicate community transmission.
31 March: Government of India identified Ahmedabad in Gujarat as a COVID-19 hotspot in the country as 3 patients have died out of total 5 cases in the city. Other hotspots in the country include Dilshad Garden and Nizamuddin in Delhi, Noida and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Bhilwara in Rajasthan, Kasargod and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra.