Officials announced restrictions on business hours in Bandar’s sales department, effective April 22. The move is due to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Machilipatnam and the surrounding mandalas.
The decision to shorten the deadlines was made by a COVID task force committee led by Minister Perni Venkataramaiah in order to contain the spread of the virus.
In a release on Tuesday, Bandar RDO Sk. Khajavali said stores and businesses, including movie theaters and gas stations, are only allowed to stay open between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Mr. Khajavali asked people not to go shopping until 7:00 p.m. However, medical businesses are exempt from the restrictions, he said. Only 100 people are allowed per meeting, and organizers should get advance permission from the township commissioner in urban areas and the Tahsildar in rural areas, he said.
He also asked medical store owners to share the information of people buying drugs to treat COVID symptoms for the government to track and test.
No curfew
“All commercial facilities should be closed between 7:00 pm and 5:00 am, but there is no curfew. People can go out in an emergency, ”said Bandar DPS M. Ramesh Reddy.
He said Iftar festivals and pandals will not be allowed for Srirama Navami in the division.
Machilipatnam parish commissioner S. Siva Rama Krishna asked people to come out of their homes only when needed. He urged people to take every precaution as the second wave of COVID-19 spread rapidly.