Sikkim: 7-day complete lockdown imposed in Gangtok

The Sikkim government on Saturday announced a complete lockdown in Gangtok for seven days from Monday to September 27 following a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Till recently, Sikkim was one of the least affected states in India but later turned vulnerable by the pandemic that was marked by three ministers, L.N. Sharma, Karma Loday Bhutia and M.N. Sherpa testing positive. Two BJP MLAs- Farwanti Tamang and T.T. Bhutia also tested positive on the same day, hence pushing for the lockdown. The quintet had taken the tests on Friday as part of protocol before the start of the two-day Assembly session on Monday.

In a notification issued in Gangtok, the state home department said the lockdown was being enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19 within Gangtok municipal corporation limits. During the seven- day lockdown period, all commercial establishments except medical and ration shops will remain shut while state government offices will operate with thirty per cent attendance.

Following the lockdown, the state government has allowed free interstate movement of people without any registration from 1st October and resumption of tourism-related services from 10th October. The health department will issue fresh COVID-19 protocol for interstate movement beginning 1st October.

Forty-three fresh Covid cases were reported from the state on Sunday with 28 deaths.