Assam to ban inter-district movement to contain record rise in Covid cases

Assam on Monday recorded 6,394 new Covid-19 infections and 92 deaths—most in a day since the pandemic started last year.

Published on: May 18, 2021, 07:56:12 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Assam government on Monday decided to suspend inter-district movement of persons and vehicles for 15 days beginning May 21 amid a record number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the state.

Assam bans inter-district movement from May 21 to contain the spread of Covid-19 cases in the state. (PTI Photo/Representative use)

“It has been observed that with unabated inter-district movement, the Covid-19 containment measures are not yielding the desired level of reduction of cases,” said the fresh order by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

Assam on Monday recorded 6,394 new Covid-19 infections and 92 deaths—most in a day since the pandemic started last year. The positivity rate, which was hovering between 8% and 9% in the past few days, however, dipped to 6.99% with 91,481 tests being conducted over the period.

The restrictions on inter-state movement will not apply to government officials, emergency and essential services, travel for medical emergencies and Covid-19 vaccination etc.

Movement of goods will also remain unaffected. Those requiring travel for medical emergencies, last rites will be allowed with written permission from the authorities of the originating district.

The state government has decided to provide food items worth ₹2,000 to poor and economically weak households in containment zones.

To ensure early detection of Covid-19 cases, the government has decided to conduct around 100,000 Covid tests daily from Monday.

While suggestions have been made that imposition of total lockdown, at least for a week, is needed to control the rising Covid cases, the new government in the state has decided against it, till now.

“We haven’t imposed a total lockdown as we are also concerned about the livelihoods of people. We are trying to create a mid-way between economic activity and Covid control. If that process fails and Covid-19 cases continue to rise, we might have to consider a total lockdown,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told HT on Sunday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More