Assam night curfew to start at 6 pm; shops to down shutters at 2 pm from tomorrow

GUWAHATI: The Assam government today revised the night curfew timings and preponed it by two hours.

The new night curfew time will now be 6 pm to 5 am every day with effect from tomorrow (May 5).

The state government's revised SOP also stated that shops and other business outlets would be closed at 2 pm as opposed to the earlier timing of 6 pm.

After 6 pm, no one is allowed to step out of their houses. However, emergency and medical services would be exempted, the order said.

The development came after health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today stated the COVID-19 situation in Assam has become a little alarming.

The minister, after visiting Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), said Assam has been reporting about 5000 cases of the novel coronavirus infection every day, and “with this the COVID situation in Assam is becoming alarming, but we are prepared to control the pandemic”.

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"Visited GMCH and held a meet with faculty and Pr Secy Health to discuss scaling up of ICU and Hospital beds. With about 5000 #Covid19 cases being reported every day, situation in Assam is becoming a little alarming. However, we’re prepared," minister Sarma tweeted.

The development also follows the imposition of lockdown and lockdown-like restrictions by states governments in Mizoram, Sikkim, etc.

The Supreme Court has also suggested the Centre, as well as state governments, consider lockdown to control the spread of the dreaded infection.

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