GUWAHATI: Amid the rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to close all the centrally protested monuments and museums till May 15.
A statement issued by the apex body responsible for the preservation of cultural monuments in the country reads, "Due to prevailing COVID situation, it has been decided to close all the Centrally protected monuments/ sites and museums under Archaeological Survey of India with immediate effect and till 15th May 2021 or until further orders."
While in Assam, there are a total of 55 monuments centrally protected museums/sites by ASI across the state which includes Talatal Ghar and Rang Ghar in Sivasagar, Group of Four Maidams in Charaideo, Vishnudol in Joysagar, among others.
Further, the state of Assam registered 499 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the active cases to 3,613.
Kamrup Metro reported 255 fresh cases, followed by Dibrugarh at 64, Kamrup Rural at 31, and Tinsukia at 24. The positivity rate stands at 2.72 percent.
Meanwhile on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry, India reported its highest-ever single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with over 2.17 lakh new cases and more than 1,100 deaths in the last 24 hours.
1,185 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 1,74,308. As many as 2,17,353 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of cases has gone up to 1,42,91,917.
In the last 24 hours, 1,18,302 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,25,47,866.
On the other hand, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 11,72,23,509 till today.