Assam: Lockdown 3.0 begins today with ‘considerable relaxations’

The third phase of the lockdown with ‘considerable relaxations’ to contain the spread of COVID-19 has come into force from today in Assam.

The country has been divided in three zones — Red, Orange and Green – based on coronavirus risk-profiling. The third phase has been marked by the relaxations stricter than those given by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Curfew has been imposed from 6 PM to 6 AM in the state. All the shops and business establishments will remain shut during that period. Assam Police has been asked to strictly enforce the curfew.

Standalone shops will open during daytime including industries and offices – both government and private – can operate with fifty per cent staff, all workers and employees will have wear masks and adhere to social distancing norms.

City buses in Guwahati will run from today till 5 PM. But only 50 percent passengers will be allowed to travel with online ticket from ‘Chalo’ application. People travelling to other districts can avail the tickets from ‘RedBus’.

Inter-district and intra-district bus service in Assam will begin to operate during the third phase of lockdown.

The government has exempted women employees – both in government sector and private – to stay at home if they have a below-five-year-old child.

Taxis, e-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws will be able to ply but with only two passengers, according to a State government notification.

Speaking to the media persons at a press conference in Guwahati, Assam health and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxi services such as Ola, Uber etc are allowed to operate or ply with one driver and two passengers within the city.

Sarma also added that private cars are also allowed to ply with driver and two passengers as per the directives by MHA.

For two-wheelers, pillion riding is allowed but only with one female or one child up to the age of 12 years, said the Minister.

Sarma also stated that e-commerce for all commodities such as Flipkart, Amazon, Myntra etc will also be allowed to operate in green zones from Monday.

All restaurants, eateries, ice cream parlours will remain open during the third phase of the lockdown. However, no one will be allowed to have food at the restaurants or any other eatery. Only take-away food service will be allowed.

On the other hand, app-based food delivery service including Zomato, Swiggy will remain operational.

Children below 12 years and senior citizens above 65 year of age will not be will have to strictly stay indoors unless there is a medical emergency, during the third phase of lockdown.

All sports, cultural, political and religious events will remain banned during the lockdown period. Places of large public gatherings – Cinema halls, gymnasiums, shopping malls, swimming pools, bars are in prohibited list during the lockdown period.

The exemptions will, however, not apply to the four orange zone districts – Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Morigaon and Dhubri – where only grocery shops, pharmacies and vegetable vendors will be allowed.