JORHAT, Aug 9 - In a bid to get Covid-19 test done before the August 12 deadline set by the Jorhat district administration, heavy rush of people, mostly shop-keepers and employees, was witnessed since morning at the Rapid Antigen Test Screening Centre at the Marwari Thakurbari beside the AT Road here today.
People were seen making serpentine queues without maintaining any physical distancing and other Covid-19 norms with people jostling for space before the entrance of the testing centre.
It may be mentioned here that the district administration vide an order issued on Friday stated that shops/business establishments will be allowed to open daily from August 10 from Monday to Friday per week and also cautioned of not allowing to operate from August 13 if owners and employees did not undergo the mandatory Covid-19 test.
The order seemed to have created panic among thousands of shop-owners and staff leading to people coming out in large numbers and creating a chaotic situation which forced policemen to intervene by way of announcement on loudspeakers to maintain distance and subsequently physically tried to control the test-seekers.
Several people waiting in queues told this newspaper that as the Jorhat district administration had set a deadline to get Covid-19 test done by August 12 or else face closure, triggered panic among the traders.
