Lockdown restrictions in Assam to continue till August 15: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced that the state government wishes to continue with the ongoing lockdown restrictions amid the improvement in the COVID-19 scenario in the state.

"I feel that till August 15, we have to alternate between limited unlock-lockdown. Although we are gauging the situation, we feel that the restrictions will remain in force till August 15. The situation is slowly returning to normalcy, so we do not wish to let it once again spiral out of control and express caution", Biswa Sarma told media persons today.

Sarma's comments came one day after the Centre announced the second phase of its "unlock" strategy following the coronavirus-induced lockdown which kept 1.3 billion Indians indoors for several months.

Envisaging a return to "normalcy", especially in regards to economic activities, the Centre has allowed gyms and yoga centres to reopen on August 5. However, the schools and educational institutions, metros, etc, shall remain closed due to the ongoing pandemic situation.

The emphasis this time has been placed on completely restricting activity inside the coronavirus containment zones, which shall remain under scrutiny, at least until August 31.

The Centre has given the states and Union Territories some amount of autonomy, especially in regards to imposing restrictions as and when they may deem fit.

Although the situation has been improving gradually in Assam (and especially in Guwahati) in regards to coronavirus cases, the Central Government has prognosticated that the biggest boom will be witnessed in the month of August.

Sarma has also echoed the same sentiment; however, the minister has said that the coronavirus curve in the state shall start declining in the month of September.

Assam's biggest success in dealing with the crisis so far is the high recovery rate that has been reported in the state.

The number yesterday soared to a staggering 76.77% after the recovery of 1,214 more coronavirus patients who were discharged from hospital after defeating the virus.

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