Guwahati to be lockdown for 2 weeks as cases in city grow

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has ordered a 14-day lockdown in Guwahati. The decision was taken as cases of COVID-19 suddenly spiked in the city. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Health Minister, Assam, said that in order to avert a similar situation in other districts, a night curfew across the state and weekend lockdown (Saturdays and Sundays) in all urban centres of the state would be imposed from June 27 till the curve is not flattened again.

There will be no lockdown in rural areas, but the night curfew will be enforced from 7pm to 7am, instead of the current timing of 9pm to 9am.

Sarma said that because of voluntary tests and targeted surveillance in Guwahati since June 15, there is a sharp rise in the number of positive cases without travel history till June 25. He added that apart from essential commodities nothing will remain open for the first seven days. Grocery shops, vegetable shops and markets will also remain shut. The situation will be reviewed after seven days, if there are any improvements, then only few relaxations will be given. 

He further said that the inbound and outbound passengers by trains and flights will be allowed to travel by producing their travel tickets as passes. Movement of vehicles in the city will be monitored during the lockdown and there will be no entry for private or commercial vehicles. Banks will work with a minimum staff and ATMs will remain open.