The first day of the total lockdown imposed by the state government in East Khasi Hills to curb the spread of Covid-19 witnessed deserted streets in the state capital.
Very few people were seen on the roads and only vehicles with passes were on the streets.
Banks, postal services and private offices were closed, along with restaurants, bars, cafes, takeaway counters and food delivery and liquor delivery services.
The total curfew in East Khasi Hills will be in place until 5 am on May 10.
The government will review the situation in a meeting on Saturday and decide a further course of action.
Several cabinet ministers are visiting districts further afield to review their preparedness.
Meanwhile, all the district heads has issued orders for lockdowns this weekend, in keeping with the state government’s instructions yesterday.
The weekend lockdown in other districts will begin from 10 pm of May 7 to 5am of May 10 in the entire district.
During the lockdown, no vehicular movement is permitted except for all essential services including health services, inter-state movement of vehicles and people will be restricted, all markets in the district will remain closed except the medicine shops, all banks, postal services and private offices also will remain closed and restaurants, liquor shops, cafes, etc. also will not be allowed to open.
The exempted activities and services during the weekend lockdown are movement of health workers, essential services like, FCI, water supply, electricity, security, municipal services, movement essential goods, print and electronic media, etc.
Farming activities in rural areas, officers and staff of corona care centers, officials on Covid-19 duty, pharmacies, clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, medical laboratories, petrol pumps, etc. are also exempted from the purview of weekend lockdown.
