Guwahati under complete lockdown from Sunday midnight: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Owing to a dramatic rise in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in Guwahati, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a complete lockdown will be clamped in the city from Sunday midnight.

"This will trouble people, it will harm the interests of the business establishments. However, the Government has to take tough decisions., These decisions are painful, but with great pain and sorrow, we have to take this decision. We did not think that we would have to shift from an unlock phase to lockdown, but we had no other option", Sarma said.

Sarma said that lockdown will be clamped in the entire Kamrup (M) district till 12 July. "This time, expect pharmacies, laboratories, and hospitals, nothing will be open. Movement of all individuals will be prohibited beyond a specific area", Sarma said. The Minister said that shops, businesses, industries, private and public transport will also not be allowed.

"Apart from the COVID duty and flood-relief related officials, no passes will be issued", Sarma said, adding that . The Minister said that this decision has been taken owing to the sharp spike in the number of COVID cases in the urban area.

"People have to realize that there are 890 hospital beds if we do not turn the GMCH into a COVID exclusive facility. In 4 days, the hospital beds will be full. I do not have issues if the beds are filled in 10 days, because then we will be able to rotate, however, that is not the case in Guwahati", Sarma elaborated. The Minister also said that the business owners have failed in their social responsibility such as the maintenance of social distancing, and people are not strictly following the rules prescribed by the Government and chided the people for not following the rules.

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