In view of the prevailing Covid19 situation, the East Garo Hills district administration has imposed weekend lockdown with effect from 10 pm on May 7 to 5 am on May 10.
The district magistrate of East Garo Hills in an order on Thursday said the decision has been taken in pursuance of pursuance of “Order of Home (Political I Department, Government of Meghalaya issued vide No. POL.75/2020/Pt.I/94, dated 5th May, 2021 and in view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID19 in the country, state and globally.”
The lockdown has been imposed to “put in place preventive measures and to take steps to ensure social distancing so that the pandemic of COVID19 does not spread to the entire district and to contain the spread of viruses to other parts of Garo Hills”.
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The order said: “I, Swapnil Tembe, IAS, District Magistrate, East Garo Hills District, Williamnagar in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under section 144 Cr.PC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 do hereby promulgate WEEKEND LOCKDOWN from 10:00 PM of 7th May, 2021 till 5:00 AM of 10th May, 2021.”
During the period of lockdown:
No vehicular movement is permitted except for all essential services including health services.
Inter- state movement of vehicles and persons shall be restricted.
All markets in the entire district shall remain closed during Weekend Lockdown.
Medicine shops however will remain open.
All banks, postal services and private offices shall remain closed.
Restaurants, liquor shops, cafes, etc. will remain closed, the order said.
The exemptions during the Weekend Lockdown:
Health services including vaccination related movement, essential services viz. Food Corporation of India, electricity, water supply, security, municipal services, fire & emergency services, NIC and telecommunication services will be exempted from the lockdown.
Movement of essential goods, print & electronic media, farming activities in rural areas, officer and staff of Corona Care Centre, all officials on COVID-19 duty will be exempted from the purview of the lockdown, according to the order.
Pharmacies, clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, medicals laboratories shall function without any restriction.
Petrol pumps will remain open.
“However, other restrictions and permitted activities notified earlier will remain the same until further orders, but Saturday & Sunday will be lockdown with exemption for essential goods, transport and emergency only,” the order said.
Wearing of face mask/covering of mouth and nose when coming out mandatory and spitting & smoking in the public places is prohibited, the order said, adding, “Violators will be imposed penalty by the designated officers.”