GUWAHATI: Assam on Tuesday extended imposition of all Covid-19 curbs, including curfew, which now will be applicable to rural areas as well, till June 5. Like in urban areas, curfew in rural areas will also start from 2 pm and end at 5 am on all days. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), in its order, stated that it has “been observed that containment measures taken so far have been found to be effective over the last few days. Adequate measures for both urban and rural areas are still of utmost necessity in order to further contain Covid-19 across the state.” Curfew was initially imposed from 6 pm to 5 am from May 5 until further orders in urban and adjacent areas only. From May 13, a ban for 15 days was imposed on functioning of offices, educational institutions, weekly haats and bazaars and religious places. From May 21, the government banned inter-district transport services and movement of people for 15 days. The new guidelines state that in rural areas, too, all government and private offices, shops and commercial establishments will have to be shut at 1 pm on all days while restaurants, dhabas and other eateries can entertain dine-in guest only up to 1 pm. Similarly, takeaway, including home delivery of food, is allowed till 2 pm after which only home delivery of food will be allowed. Restaurants operating within a hotel or resort can allow outside guests up to 1 pm only while cold storages and warehouses may continue after 1 pm. But sale counters, showrooms attached to these warehouses or cold storages have to shut at 1 pm. The ASDMA order said all the existing restrictions enforced in urban areas will also continue till June 5. These restrictions imposed from May 13 were for 15 days, which would have ended on May 28. The urban area restrictions include closure of all government and private offices, bazaars and religious places, 2pm-5 am curfew and use of odd-even formula for private vehicles during the non-curfew period. All educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities, which are already closed, have been asked to provide quality virtual options. Guidelines for marriages and religious functions will continue as notified earlier under which these can be held only as private affairs where not more than 10 people can participate.
Assam extends all curbs to contain Covid till June 5
