The Assam government on Wednesday ordered shutting down of all offices, religious places and weekly markets for 15 days in urban and semi-urban areas of the state, besides banning movement of people from 2pm to 5am in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases.
Issuing a new set of guidelines for the urban and semi-urban places in the periphery of 5km of municipal areas, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua said all standalone shops and commercial establishments shall shut down at 1pm on all days.
"Complete lockdown is an option, but we are going gradually in a phased manner. We hope these measures will work in the next two-three days," he said at a press conference in Guwahati.
The new restrictions will come into effect from Thursday. As per the restrictions notified by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), weekly haats, bazaars, educational institutions and all government and private offices have been ordered to shut for the next 15 days.
"Government officers of deputy secretary and above rank and senior executive in private sector along with their key support staff will be allowed to attend office up to 1pm only for emergency and essential works," the order stated.
However, these restrictions will not be applicable for organisations rendering essential and emergency services, law enforcement services and election works.
"All religious places shall remain closed for 15 days... Funeral/last rites-related gatherings shall not be more than 10 persons," the order said.
Likewise, weddings and religious functions will be only private affairs and be allowed with the presence of a maximum of 10 persons and no reception parties will be allowed post- or pre-wedding.
"In case the test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches five per cent or more in the last one week, District Magistrate will notify such areas as containment zone and ensure necessary containment measures for COVID-19," the ASDMA said.
All public transport will be allowed with 30 per cent of seating capacity, while auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers only.
"Pillion riding will be totally prohibited in two-wheelers except with women and children. All vehicles other than government vehicles will be allowed to ply in accordance with an odd-even formula to be decided by the jurisdictional district disaster management authority between 5am to 2pm," the order stated.
ASDMA further said that there shall be a total ban on the movement of individuals from 2pm to 5am daily.
For the rest of the state, all restrictions announced earlier such as night curfew from 6pm to 5am with total ban on movement of persons at public places on all days will continue, except for those engaged in essential and emergency services.
When asked why the government is not considering imposing a complete lockdown, Barua said that any such drastic measures adversely affects the poor people and that will be considered as the last resort.
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Director-General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said the police will implement the restrictions very strictly if the people do not follow them.
"If we see people crowding at any place, say in front of a permitted shop, police will be ruthless. We will use force and lathi-charge them. You may go and file cases against us, but we don't care. If someone organises any function secretly at home and invites people, then it will be considered as cheating and betrayal. We will not only file a case under Disaster Management Act, but also lodge an attempt to murder case," Mahanta said.
