GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Monday kept on hold further unlocking, citing that though the number of Covid-19 patients and test positivity rates are dipping in some districts, the overall situation in the state was “still precarious” and extended the existing restrictions from 5 am of Tuesday for an indefinite period.
After a seven-week partial lockdown, the state cautiously initiated the unlocking process from last Monday with reduction in curfew timing by one hour in Guwahati, by four hours in eight districts where the situation is comparatively better than the rest and from 1 pm to 5 am in the remaining 24 districts. All the restrictions will continue in the same way, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority ordered on Monday..
“Whereas, the situation of Covid-19 in the state has been reviewed and observed that though the number of Covid-19 patients and positivity rate is declining in some districts. the overall situation is still precarious for which adequate containment measures for both urban and rural areas are still necessary for containment of Covid-19 across the state,” the order of the ASDMA stated.
Accordingly, curfew in Guwahati will continue to be in force from 2 pm to 5 am and from 5pm to 5 am in South Salmara, Majuli, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Charaideo – the eight districts where the number of cases are consistently dipping.
On the other hand, the number of cases are maintaining an upward trend in as many as eight districts – Cachar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Biswanath, Jorhat, Golaghat.
Health minister Keshab Mahanta hinted that if the situation in these districts do not improve by next week, the government would be compelled to bring the hotspot areas in each of these districts under a complete lockdown.
“The timing of curfew and opening of government and private offices/establishments, shops and commercial establishments, restaurants, dhabas and other eateries, restaurants operating within a hotel or resort and sale counters, showrooms, cold storages and warehouses in the districts will also remain same as the earlier order dated June 16, 2021,” the ASDMA said.
Other ban on inter-district movement, use of odd-even formula for plying of vehicles in urban areas, declaration of containment zones and exemptions notified on June 4 will also continue to remain in force, the ASDMA added.
