GUWAHATI: On Saturday, May 15, the Government of Assam issued a fresh set of guidelines extending the curfew hours in the state.
All shops and commercial establishments were ordered to shut down at 11 AM, along with a total ban on the movement of individuals from 12 PM to 5 AM, on all days.
Moreover, on Saturday, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government would decide if lockdown needs to be imposed on places like Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia after assessing the COVID situation in these locations over the next 4-5 days.
As a result of these restrictions, a lot of panic buying was witnessed in the markets of Guwahati city leading to more crowds because of the new COVID-19 restrictions.
"With the SOPs in place, rush at market areas has inevitably increased as the timings for commercial shops to be open has decreased, and a crowded place at times like this can only do more damage than any good," expressed a resident of Zoo Road.
The CM gave direction for the extension of curfew hours in consultation with the business community and leading citizens. However, no clarification on the lingering lockdown has come yet from CM's desk which has created an unnecessary panic on the streets of Guwahati.
Meanwhile, Guwahati (Kamrup Metro) has been the worst affected district in the state with 21 COVID-19 related deaths and as many as 1,012 fresh cases recorded on May 15. Following Kamrup (M), other high case-load districts in the state include Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Kamrup Rural, Nagaon, and Sonitpur.
The CM has said that if the COVID situation does not improve in high-case load districts then the government might have to impose a lockdown to bring the COVID situation under control.
Nonetheless, a little more clarity on the issue would be helpful to keep people's minds at ease amid the chaos of a partial lockdown.