No more “social distancing”; Health agencies advocate for usage of “physical distancing”

GUWAHATI: With several regions of the country under lockdown and government urging people to avoid mass gatherings, various health agencies around the world, such as WHO, are urging people to use the word “physical distancing” instead of “social distancing.”

Health officials insist that the current scenario is not about giving up social contacts but to maintain healthy distance from one another so that the spread of virus can be prevented.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has urged people to remain indoors for the next two weeks; and move out only if it is extremely necessary.

Sonowal said that the Health department is taking all measures to keep the people safe and called upon them not to be complacent as no case of COVID-19 has been detected so far in the State. He also urged people to maintain social distancing and follow the advisories of the Health department in letter and spirit.

To contain the possible outbreak of coronavirus, the Transport Department has issued an order prohibiting all inter-state passenger vehicles (i.e. contract carriages, stage carriages, taxi cabs, maxi cabs) to and from Assam, to other States and Union Territories up to March 31, 2020. However, it will not be applicable to goods vehicles, personal vehicles, vehicles used for maintaining essential emergency services and vehicles on government duty.

Additionally, concerned over the Global Pandemic COVID-19 that has taken away thousands of life globally, as many as 26 Guwahati-based Bihu Committees decided a few days ago to not to organize any kind of cultural programmes in the upcoming Bohag Bihu season.

The committees held a meeting with all the representative members of different Bihu Committees and took the unanimous decision to not organize cultural functions so as to avoid mass gatherings. With an appeal to other Bihu committees of the State to follow the same decision to avoid mass gatherings, the members said that it is time everyone played the role of a responsible person in the fight against COVID-19.

Also read: Assam’s 1st COVID-19 positive case. 4.5 yr-old girl tests positive in Jorhat

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