COVID-19: Beauty Parlours, Barber Shops, Libraries & Museums Closed in Assam till March 31

Guwahati, March 19, 2020:

Beauty parlours, barber shops, libraries, museums and coaching centres, all these have been closed down in Assam due to the pandemic coronavirus or COVID-19.

The Assam Government, to keep COVID-19 away from the State, has decided to close down all the beauty parlours, barber shops, libraries, museums and coaching centres from March 19 to March 31.

This step to shut all the public spaces, especially beauty parlours and barber shops, have created a tense ambiance in the State. "Thirteen days of closing down the barber shops and beauty parlours for COVID-19 is fine. We can all go on 'self make-up' just like doctors and authorities have asked to go on self quarantine," said Liku Uzir, a local of Guwahati.

"We are ready to stay at home and restrict ourselves for a month if required. The only wish is for the coronavirus to vanish," said Ram Baskey, a driver by profession.

Assam Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to share this piece of information. He wrote, "From today we are closing all museums, libraries, coaching centres, beauty parlours and barber shops till 31st March 2020. We are constantly monitoring and reviewing the evolving situation and will take all necessary steps to protect and safeguard public health."

In view of the outbreak of the COVID-19, the Joint Secretary to the Government of Assam, Home and Political Department has directed all the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts of the State to issue necessary instructions from their end for social distancing and closure of all liquor bar (country bar)/ Nightclub/ Beauty parlour/ Salon (Unisex) with immediate effect.

On Wednesday, Assam ordered closure of all kinds of liquor shops till March 31. The Excise Commissionerate of Assam ordered to close down all the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) upto March 31 with immediate effect.

It has also decided not to issue visitor passes, including e-passes, till March 31. “In view of the spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19) in the country, it is necessary to restrict gathering in public places as well as office premises. Therefore, considering all other aspects and as a preventive measure, it has been decided that no visitor passes including e-passes will be issued till 31-03-2020,” read a notification issued by the Assam Secretariat.

The Assam Government has also prohibited mass gatherings of all types in the State. The prohibitory mass gathering applies to birthday parties, religious functions and any other get-together. As per the prohibitory order, assembling at Mosques for Namaaz has also been restricted.

Assam has also ordered the closure of Kaziranga and all other wildlife Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries of the State from March 17 to March 29, 2020.

It has been ordered that mass gatherings should be avoided in the Wildlife conservation and protected areas of the State, which includes Kaziranga and others, till the disease spread is contained.

Assam has not yet reported any positive case of coronavirus. Yet, it has taken all the preventive measures to keep the virus away. India has a total number of reported novel coronavirus cases of 169, with 30 fresh cases reported from various parts of the country. The number includes 25 foreign nationals and the three persons who died in Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.