Coronavirus update: Assam to go on a lockdown until March 31

GUWAHATI: To deal with coronavirus situation, Assam will go on a lockdown from 6 pm tomorrow until March 31 midnight, said Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The announcement was made during a Press Conference at 5 pm today.

Some other strict measures were announced on that front.

•During the lockdown period pharmacy, petrol depo, grocery shops will be open. Office, educational institutions, government, private offices, industry, and all else will be shut. No one can come out. People will have to stay inside.

First instance of violation will cause 6 months jail. Second instance of violation will be penalized with 2 years inside jail under IPC. Fire brigade, hospital, essential services will be open. Ambulance service will go on.

• Domestic flights will be restricted but will not completely stop

Interstate transport including private vehicles will not ply.

• Skeletal staff at Treasury and bank will function. ATM will continue.

For financial transactions at government offices with 10 percent staff will come.

•Religious places cannot have more than 3 people. Gatherings are not allowed.

• Beyond March 31, there will be an economic impact. Later, economic impact on the state will be analysed.

• Testing facility have started in many medical hospitals. Barpeta and Tezpur will also start with facilities to test coronavirus patients.

•Sonarpur medical facility will now be transformed into a corona treatment hospital

Guwahati Medical college eye department will treat corona patient.

In all medical colleges elective surgery has been suspended for now.

University colleges, hostels, hotels will be taken over for mild coronavirus affected cases if required.

• 104 can be dialed in case there is an issue. Staff will be there to help you.

• Residents of Assam are coming back to the state. 300 trains have arrived today and 200 trains will come tomorrow. Stamping has started. Home quarantine should start. People coming from other states of India where the impact of coronavirus is more must be home quarantined at all costs.

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