Curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM; Private, Public vehicle to ply with restrictions, Standalone shops to remain open till 5

With no Red zone in the state, Assam Government on Sunday announced a new set of rules and regulations to be followed across the Green districts of Assam. However, all the relaxations are subjected to the condition of mandatory wearing of masks in public, ensuring social distancing norms.

Health and finance minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, while announcing the rules today evening, mentioned that the state will clamp complete Curfew from 6pm to 6am beginning from May 4 across the state. “Complete curfew will be clamped from evening 6pm to next day morning 6am. No relaxation will be provided except for pharmacies” the minister said.

The other relaxations that have been announced today are enlisted below. The relaxation will be only for green zones. –

A. The movement of individuals is strictly prohibited between 6 PM and 6 AM throughout the state across all zones, except for emergency services namely medical services, police, fire services and emergency response for restoring telecom and electricity.

B. Private Medical Clinics and OPDs shall be allowed to open including veterinary OPDs.

C. All standalone shops shall be allowed to operate till 5 PM. In areas where there are adjacent shops it shall be ensured that there are at least two closed shops in between two open shops except for pharmacies, grocery stores and book shops. Deputy Commissioners shall in consultation with market associations, identify the shops and allow them to operate only after this is finalised. Market complexes and shopping malls shall remain closed.

D. Auto Rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers maintaining social distancing.

E. Private four wheelers are allowed with driver and two others.

F. For two wheelers, pillion riding is allowed either with one female or one child up to the age of 12 years.

G. All constructions in urban areas shall be allowed with a maximum of 50% work force.

H. City buses, intra-district and inter-district buses shall operate with 50% capacity. Only 50% of total number of buses shall be allowed to operate and only under the authority of ASTC. All vehicles which are allowed to ply are not permitted to stop in the Red and Orange Zones but can only pass through.

I. Government and Private offices shall operate with 50% of employees.

J. All tea shops, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, cooked food outlets are allowed to operate on take away or home delivery basis only.

K. Barber shops, saloons and parlours shall continue to remain closed, however, home visits of barber would be allowed after following hygiene and sanitisation norms.

L No livestock carrying trucks shall be allowed to enter the State. However, if there is any truck already loaded with livestock and headed for any State outside Assam those may be allowed to move to their destination without stopping in the State of Assam.

M. E-Commerce for all commodities is allowed.

N. Maintaining social distancing and arrangement for thermal scanning, hand sanitization shall be the responsibility of the Head of the Organization both public and private.

0. Female employees, both private and public, with children below 5 years of age are not to attend office till 17th May, 2020 when this will be reviewed.

P. Haats and bazars including weekly markets shall remain closed throughout the state.

Q. Movement of persons beyond the age of 65 years and below the age of 10 years shall be restricted in public spaces except for medical purposes.