Only 50% market, transport to operate

Srinagar, April 20:Amid rise in the cases of COVID-19, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday ordered the extension of night curfew to all municipal and urban areas, while only 50 percent of market and transport would be allowed to operate in the erstwhile state.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the office of the LG said the night curfew would be extended to all 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

"New #COVID control measures: The Corona Curfew at night shall be extended to all Municipal/urban local body limits of all 20 districts of #JammuAndKashmir. It was already in force in eight districts earlier, from 10 pm to 6 am (sic)," the LG J&K office said.

In another tweet, the LG J&K office said that public transport will be allowed with only 50 per cent seating, while 50 per cent shops in the market shall be open on an alternate basis.

"Only 50% shops in Market complexes / Bazaars / Malls within the Municipal limits / urban local body limits shall be open on an alternate basis through a rotation system (sic)," the tweet reads.

LG office said the district magistrates of all districts shall devise a mechanism to implement this, preferably in consultation with local market associations.

As per the order, shops located at the right side of the road, street shall open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday., while shops at the left side of the road shall remain open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases. At present there are 7300 positive cases while Kashmir has recorded 1300 deaths so far.