Assam to continue with existing curbs for four more days

GUWAHATI: Assam has decided to continue with the existing restrictions to contain the spread of Covid-19 for four more days saying that the central Unlock 4.0 guidelines, which will be in force from Tuesday, “need to be examined thoroughly” first.
This implies that night curfew from 9pm to 5am will continue till Friday, while the status of weekend lockdowns will be known only after that.
“The Government of India, on August 29, had issued latest directives. But certain issues need to be examined thoroughly before any further relaxations are allowed,” state chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna stated in an order.
He added that the measures, as stipulated in the state government’s earlier order issued on August 13, “will remain in force till the midnight of 4th September, 2020.” The chief secretary further said, “These orders/specifications may be modified/altered at any time depending upon circumstances prevailing in the state and without any advance notice to anyone.”
The state’s guidelines issued on August 13 opened up several activities but extended night curfew, though for a shorter time from 9 pm to 5 am, besides weekend lockdowns. A couple of days ago, the state government partially relaxed the lockdown on Saturdays to allow movement of employees of central, state, PSUs, banks and essential services to attend offices. These restrictions were till August 31.
The government, from August 16, has permitted all activities on weekdays till 9 pm. The government has also lifted the curb on city bus services with only 50% capacity. Also, inter-district movement of people have been allowed for five days a week from Monday to Friday. The left hand and right hand norm for opening of shops and business establishments on alternate days have also been withdrawn from August 16.
Spitting in public places, consumption of tobacco and liquor products will continue to be strictly prohibited.
In addition, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, religious functions and other large congregations are allowed with 50 people only, while the central guidelines have now permitted up to 100 people from September 21.
The state government, in its previous unlock guidelines, allowed reopening of bars, restaurants and gyms but cinema, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places of public gathering have been kept closed.