Lohardaga shops shut voluntarily to curb Covid spread

Gumla: Fearing a further spread of Covid-19, the business community of Lohardaga voluntarily started shutting down their establishments and appealed to others through WhatsApp groups to do the same. On Sunday, shops selling utensils, jewellery and others remained shut.
Till Sunday morning, the total number of cases in the district touched the 100-mark of which 51 are active.
Kanskar Samaj president Ajay Kanskar said, “Our community of traders have shut all utensils shops voluntarily to curb the spread of the infection in the town area. We have also demanded the administration to impose a complete lockdown in the district.”
Grocery shop owner Kunal Abhishek said, “Though shops selling food items are exempted from closure during the lockdown, I have shut my shop to join the others.”
Though the exact number of shops shut on Sunday was not readily available, president of Lohardaga Chamber of Commerce and Industries Rajesh Kumar Mahato said, “Most of the shops in the town didn’t operate. The number of Covid-19 cases are rising and it is worrying sign. We are creating awareness among our members through WhatsApp groups to stay home and follow the Covid guidelines.”
Earlier this week, the district administration had clamped Section 144 prohibiting assembly of five or more persons at public places and had set up a camp jail for violators.