Assam Govt relaxes lockdown for 2 weeks in Guwahati

The Assam government has announced lockdown relaxation in Guwahati with certain conditions for two weeks with effect from July 20^th, 2020. This was informed by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

However, night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am will remain in force. The inter-district movement will open only for two days. It will remain restricted from July 22^nd, 2020.

Permitted activities

• All shops and business establishments are allowed to operate on one side of any street on any given day and on the opposite side on alternate days between Monday and Friday and from 7AM to 5PM. Deputy Commissioner, in consultation with trade bodies, shall determine the side of the street for opening on alternate days;
• Whole-sellers for essential items are allowed to operate between Monday and Friday subject to one side of the street norm between 7AM and 5 PM;
• Whole sellers of non-essential items are allowed to operate from Monday to Friday subject to one side of the street norm between 7AM and 5 PM;
• Vegetables, fish and meat whole-sellers are allowed to operate from Monday to Friday between 7AM and 5 PM ;
• Home delivery of vegetables, meat and fish is allowed from Monday to Saturday between 7AM and 5 PM ;
• Courier and e-commerce activities are allowed from Monday to Friday between 7AM and 5 PM;
• All Industrial establishments shall be allowed to function, subject to workforce staying in the premises and outwards/ inwards movement shall not be allowed;
• All construction activities including transportation of materials are allowed, subject to workforce remaining inside the construction sites and owner/ builder being responsible for testing for COVID and maintenance of all COVID protocols;
• Milk, milk products and baby food are allowed to be sold on all days;
• Restaurants and other hospitality services are allowed to function from Monday to Friday during non-curfew hours only on take away basis including online home delivery of cooked food businesses;
• Pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and medicine whole-sellers are allowed on both sides of street from Monday to Friday. Pharmacies are allowed to operate on all days;
• Animal food, veterinary medicine and other livestock related activities are allowed on all days;
• Pan, guthkha & cigarette shops are not allowed to open;
• Shopkeepers will be allowed to operate only with 50% employees and all employees including owner testing negative for COVID19 and with strict compliance of all COVID19 protocols issued by Health Department;
• Cab aggregators, Auto Rickshaws and manual Rickshaws except e-rickshaws are allowed to operate with only two passengers at any given time with operator carrying negative test reports for COVID19. The operator is responsible for sanitizing vehicles after every trip.
• Technical services such as plumber, electrician, carpenter, AC and other electrical and electronic equipment repairing is allowed from Monday to Friday during non-curfew hours;
• All Central and State Government offices including Banks, Insurance Companies, NBFCs, GTAC, and private offices shall operate with 30% of all workforce. Testing for COVID and maintenance of COVID protocols shall be the responsibility of the head of the office. Offices are allowed to operate without street-side restrictions;
• All warehouses are allowed to operate from Monday to Friday between 7AM and 5 PM with the workforce remaining inside the campus and management will be responsible for testing and maintenance of protocols for COVID19. Goods carrying vehicles are allowed on all days;
• Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services, IT and IT enabled services to continue.,
• Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services shall continue with persons with specifically assigned duties being allowed to come out;
• Private vehicles, both four and two wheelers are strictly barred from coming on to street except for medical emergency and official duty;
• Street and footpath vending of any sort is not allowed:
• All designated GMC markets shall remain closed:
• Malls, cinema halls, gymnasiums. yoga centres and all places of public gathering shall remain closed:
• All shopkeepers, employees, delivery persons, technical repair personnel and any person coming in close contact with members of the public must get themselves tested for COVID19 and must carry test result on their person at all times;
• Movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 6 PM (1800Hrs) and 6AM (0600 Hrs). No movement of individuals shall be allowed on Saturday and Sunday at any time;

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary has informed that no decision has been taken yet to open the educational institutions.

Also read: Why Assam flood is not like ‘Jo Tera Hain, Wo Mera Hain’ for rest of India, questions Congress

The Chief Secretary on Thursday last south suggestions from the netizens on Twitter and wrote, “In view of the rapid rise of COVID 19 cases in Assam, especially in Guwahati, what are your concerns and expectations for Unlock 1.0?.”

The state government has been facing a lot of criticism in recent times from Opposition and civil society groups and the public for re-imposing Lockdown in the capital city.

Replying to Krishna’s tweet, city denizens have questioned the outcome of the ongoing lockdown. They said though the lockdown was brought in to arrest the chain of COVID 19 infection here, it failed and Guwahati continued to surge in the tally.

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