Businesses shut in Surat voluntarily as Covid worsens

Surat/Ahmedabad/Vadodara: Gujarat on Tuesday added 915 cases and 14 deaths taking the total Covid-19 tally to 43,723 and the death toll is now 2,071.
On yet another day of state recording highest positive cases, Surat was worst affected with 291 cases and five deaths. Ahmedabad recorded 167 cases and three deaths.
Close on heels of worsening Covid-19 spread in Surat, many businesses especially textile and diamond markets, either declared voluntary shutdown or cutdown in working hours as precautionary measures to contain virus spread.
Around two dozen textile markets, housing around 35,000 shops, declared to shut shop from Wednesday till July 20. The voluntary shutdown is prompted by at least 600 persons working in the textile industry, mostly markets, testing positive for Covid-19. Nearly three dozen markets were holding meetings to decide on voluntary shutdown.
The diamond industry is worst hit with 1,300 people in diamond units and markets testing corona positive after June 1. The diamond trading hub in Mahidharpura is also operating only from 2pm to 6pm only.
In a statement the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has appealed to all the traders and merchants in Surat to shut their shops by 2pm.
The situation in industrial towns of Bharuch, Ankleshwar and Dahej is also worrisome with employees of many companies testing positive, forcing closure of some plants. Kamlesh Udani, executive director of pharma major JB Chemicals, also tested positive and is under treatment at a private hospital in Vadodara. Eight staffers of Lupin Laboratories were also found to be infected, company officials confirmed.
While the situation has improved in Ahmedabad, the city's Manek Chowk Gold Silver Jewellers’ Association announced on Tuesday that some 5,000 wholesale and retail jewellery stores will cut their working hours by two hours from Wednesday. The market will now operate from 10am to 5pm unlike till 7pm following some workers testing Covid positive. "We are also encouraging our members to wear masks and ensure social distancing,” Paresh Choksi, president of the association said. The association has also discouraged movement of those aged above 65 years in the market.
The Vadodara Vepari Vikas Mandal (VVVA) had last week decided to voluntarily shut down shops in the city by 5 pm. The association decided to shut down provision stores by 6pm and restaurants by 9pm. Most shops in the congested areas like Mangal Bazaar and Mandvi have adhered to the deadline.