Coronavirus update: Six out of Eight NE states in India under lockdown

GUWAHATI: Amid coronavirus update six out of eight North Eastern states in India will be under lockdown.

Assam will be under lockdown from 6 pm on Tuesday till March 31 in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Making the announcement at a press conference held at Janata Bhawan here on Monday evening, Finance, Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said barring essential services including grocery shops, pharmacies and petrol pumps all other private, commercial and government establishments in the State would remain closed during the lockdown. He said the people would not be able to come out to the streets and violators of the lockdown would face imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years.

Arunachal Pradesh will go on lockdown until March 31 as a precautionary measure against coronavirus situation. All essential services shall be exempted from this. “No public transport services, including operation of taxis, auto-rickshaws, will be permitted except transport of all kinds to and from hospitals, airport, helipad, railway stations, and goods carriers carrying food and essential commodities,” the notification said.

All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops shall also shut their operations, it said.

In Tripura lockdown will be effective from 2 p.m. on Tuesday until March 31. All essential services would stay operational and vehicles associated with the health and emergency services will function.

The Manipur government declared lockdown, except emergency and essential services until March 31.

Mizoram will be under one-week partial lockdown from Sunday night until March 29.

The Nagaland government on Sunday ordered a partial lockdown and sealing of borders to contain and prevent the spread of coronavirus. ”The movement of people and all vehicles, except those engaged in essential services, is suspended indefinitely from the midnight of March 23,” state Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said in a notification. The state government has prescribed punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violators of the order.”

All government offices, shops, and business establishments barring those specified as essential-have also been asked to shut down as a precautionary measure against Covid-19,” the order added. According to the notification, all stores barring pharmacies and those selling essential commodities will remain shut. All commercial and private vehicles, including two-wheeler taxis, will also not be allowed to ply. Ambulances, fire and emergency services, vehicles used for law and order duties and those of accredited journalists will be allowed, the notification said.

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