Assam government announced the reimposition of fresh lockdown in Guwahati from June 28 midnight to July 12. Invoking the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the state government on Friday issued a fresh order clamping “Total Lockdown” in Guwahati.
According to state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, weekend lockdown will also be imposed in rest of the state from the same period.
“It has been reported to me by District Magistrate, Kamrup Metropolitan that there is large scale spread of Coivd-19 occurring in almost entire district of Kamrup Metropolitan which has posed as a major threat to public health, hygiene and safety of the general population,” said the latest order signed by Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna.
Accordingly, all government offices shall remain shut during the period and the movement of vehicles will be restricted. No business or commercial establishment swill be allowed to open and public transport shall remain suspended as well.
All places off religious worship also remain closed for the public in Guwahati. No more than 20 persons will be allowed to attend a funeral. The state government has made spitting in public a punishable offense. The sale of liquor also remains banned.
On the other hand, the state government has exempted defense, central and state police forces, establishments of the district magistrate, commissioner of police, home guards, civil defense, fire and emergency services, disaster management, electricity, water, sanitation, municipal bodies (only staff required for essential services like sanitation, water supply, etc.), hospitals and retail medical establishments from the purview of lockdown.
The Assam government has also imposed night curfew across the state and directed the district magistrates of all other districts of the state to enforce a total prohibition of movement of persons between 7 pm to 7 am in all areas of their respective jurisdiction from June 27.
“District Magistrates of all districts shall also promulgate necessary orders for ‘Total Lockdown’ of all Municipal and Town Committee areas under their jurisdiction on all Saturdays and Sundays w.e.f. June 27, 2020 until further orders,” said in the government order.
As of Friday, Assam has recorded over 6,300 coronavirus cases, of which 2,279 are active cases. While over 4,000 people have recovered, the state government is worried about the rising number of cases in urban areas of the state.
It may be noted that Assam is one of the worst-affected states in the northeast region. The state has so far recorded nine deaths due to coronavirus.
