'Vyapar Bandh' on March 23 in Assam as COVID-19 Cases Reach 324 in India

Guwahati, March 22, 2020:

As the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has taken a toll on the country, a total lockdown of business or 'Vyapar Bandh' in Assam has been called on Monday.

The Assam Chamber of Commerce has called the strike dubbed as 'Vyapar Bandh' on Monday following the increased number of Assam residents arriving from the different parts of the country and abroad amid shutdowns everywhere.

The ‘Vyapar Bandh’ called on Monday will be enforced from 6 AM to 9 PM. This is in addition to the ‘Janata Curfew’ appealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President of Assam Chambers of Commerce, Sanjive Narain said that the 'Vyapar Bandh' should be followed by all businessmen as it has been issued in the interest of public health.

ALSO READ: Update: Suspected COVID-19 Case of 4-Yr-Old in Assam's Jorhat Tests NEGATIVE

Narain has appealed everyone to take precaution and abide by the 'Janata Curfew' on Sunday as well the following day. Chairman of the Assam Chamber of Commerce, Rupam Goswami has also appealed to all businessmen to follow the call.

It might be a loss to business but is a necessary step to tackle the outbreak of the dreaded virus, viewed the Assam Chamber of Commerce.

“The loss that will happen to us is smaller than the cause that we are contributing to. We appeal to all organizations to come forward to help the government” he added.

It needs mention here that on March 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a self-imposed lockdown for 14 hours on Sunday. The whole country has followed the Janata Curfew. Minimum movements have been seen in Guwahati, with only a number of pharmacies open for emergency medical purpose.

ALSO READ: Mizoram Orders Partial Lockdown till March 29 amid Corona Crisis

Guwahati Transport Authority has announced that all the city bus services will be suspended for the next three days, starting from Sunday's 'Janata Curfew'.

The City Transport Authority has suspended the bus services in a bid to check if Guwahati is prepared to deal with home quarantine if imposed. All the city bus services have been suspended from March 22 to March 24, 2020, the Guwahati Transport Authority has informed.

In a bid to prevent COVID-19 outbreak in the state, the Assam Transport Department has also taken a slew of measures and is constantly monitoring the situation in the field.

ALSO READ: Assam: Guwahati Transport Authority Suspends City Bus Services for Next 3 Days amid Corona Crisis

Extending support to the Prime Minister’s call for Janata Curfew on March 22, ASTC buses, IWT ferries and private vehicles have also been suspended. Since, Umananda Temple has been closed for visitors, ferry services to the temple has also been suspended by IWT.

Similarly, as Kamakhya Temple has also been shut down, ASTC buses to Kamakhya have been suspended temporarily.

It may be mentioned here that India has recorded a total of 324 coronavirus cases. Maharashtra has topped the list, with 60 cases, followed by Kerala with 45 cases, Rajasthan 22, Uttar Pradesh 24, Delhi 28, Haryana 3, Himachal 2, Karnataka 20, Punjab 13, Telengana 10, Ladakh 13, West Bengal 4, Uttarakhand 3, Tamil Nadu 4, Puducherry 1, Odisha 2, MP 4, Gujarat 14.

Two deaths have been reported from Maharashtra. A fresh case of a 65-year-old has been reported on Sunday morning, taking the death toll in India to six (including one foreigner).

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