JORHAT, March 27 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today, while appealing to people to prefer home delivery mode for buying essential items, said the government has decided to close vegetable, fish and meat markets with immediate effect because of heavy rush witnessed in such markets in several parts of the state today.
Sonowal, while addressing media persons at the forecourt of the Jorhat Circuit House, said the government has directed all district administrations to immediately ensure closure of markets selling vegetables, fish and meat.
The Chief Minister said the decision was taken after witnessing a heavy rush of people in markets in Guwahati and many other places across the state since morning.
�I am very much worried and pained to see pictures of large numbers of people flocking the markets violating the very important instruction of maintaining social distancing,� Sonowal observed.
He said the Central government�s bold decision to protect the citizens from the threat of being infected by coronavirus by declaring a nationwide lockdown will be defeated if people in large number come out of their homes. He said the virus has afflicted people in large numbers across the world and also took many lives within a very short period.
Sonowal urged the people to cooperate with the government and enforce lockdown by staying indoors and by maintaining social distancing. He urged people to pay special attention to elderly persons above 65 years of age and children up to 10 years.
Stating that there could be a horrible situation if the disease outbreaks in the state, Sonowal said people should understand the seriousness of the threat as there is no medicine available for curing people affected by COVID-19. Sonowal said, �Now, it�s no playtime�.
The Chief Minister urged the people to avail home or doorstep delivery arrangements to be made by the district administrations for purchasing essential commodities. He said all the district administrations are in the process of putting into effect the doorstep delivery mode by way of placing orders by phone.
He, however, said the grocery retailers will remain open on a limited and rotational basis. Earlier, Sonowal visited JMCH and reviewed the measures undertaken there to treat positive COVID-19 cases.
