Post April 20th, 2020, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the State government is mulling to allow a one-time inter-district movement of people.

Sarma said based on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the Assam government is contemplating on allowing the stranded people to move on a particular day after April 20th, 2020.

“The movement will be one time until the lockdown ends. It may happen on April 21st, 22nd or 23rd, 2020…depending on the situation,” Sarma said.

The Assam government is devising a strategy to handle the stranded people of the State who are wanting to return back home. The people will be screened and kept in quarantine.

Sarma said that the names of around 4 lakh people stranded outside Assam have been registered with the government.

It may be recalled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14th, 2020 indicated at easing of lockdown restrictions in places where there is no hotspot after April 20th, 2020.

“Until April 20th, 2020, every town, every police station, every district, every state will be evaluated on how much the lockdown is being followed. The extent to which the region has protected itself from coronavirus will be noted. Our country has greatly benefited from social distancing and lockdown,” Modi said.

He added, “Areas that will succeed in this litmus test, which will not be in the hot-spot category and will have less likelihood to turn into a hot-spot, may be allowed to open up select necessary activities from April 20th, 2020.”

Modi said that the relaxation permission will be conditional, and the rules for going out will be very strict.

Photo: Twitter