Lockdown in Kamrup-M extended by one more week

GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Saturday extended the 14-day ongoing lockdown in Guwahati and its surrounding areas in Kamrup (Metro) district by one more week till July 19. There are limited relaxations for people to replenish their stock of grocery and vegetable but only till Friday. There will be a complete shutdown on the last two days - Saturday and Sunday of the additional week.
Movement of private vehicles will remain banned. Apart from defence, central and state police forces, establishment of the district magistrate, commissioner of police, home guards, civil defence, fire and emergency services, disaster management, electricity, water, sanitation and municipal bodies, all government offices will remain closed.
Hospitals and retail medical establishments, along with pharmaceutical and medical equipment supply activities, are permitted to remain open during the lockdown period with maximum 20% of workforce.
Private offices, too, will not be allowed to open. Only ATMs, banks and insurance company branches have been allowed to operate with 10 % skeletal attendance.
State chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna issued the order for the additional one-week extension following recommendations from the state health department.
State health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The citizens committees yesterday had a consultation with the Kamrup (Metro) district administration and the health department and said they wanted the lockdown to be extended by two more weeks. But the health department has communicated to the chief secretary that one week is enough as the rate of Covid-19 positivity in the city is showing a declining trend."
The chief secretary, in his order extending the lockdown, stated, "It has been reported to me by district magistrate, Kamrup Metropolitan, that there is continuing large-scale spread of Covid-19 occurring in almost the entire district of Kamrup Metropolitan."