Cuttack (SunstarTV Bureau): After noticing the number of Corona virus outbreak in state and cities, the traders’ body in Cuttack has decided to close their shops after 2 pm daily from next week of Monday.
A proposal in this regard was approved by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). The restriction will continue for 15 days, CMC Commissioner Ananya Das said.
However, emergency services including functioning of medicine shops have been excluded from the shutdown. Similarly, loading and unloading have been allowed in Chhatra Bazar and Malgodown.
“We had had meeting various bazaar committees yesterday which was very productive. The bazaar committees officials proposed us to shut the market after 2 pm for 15 days to check the spread of the Corona virus,” Das said.
“They want to bring such restriction from Monday. So, we welcome their move which can help in breaking the chain of infection,” she added.
The markets will remain open till 2 pm and after that only medicine shops will be allowed to operate, she pointed out.
Meanwhile, 570 new positive cases have been reported from Cuttack district in last 24 hours.
Two days ago, the merchant and vendor association in Ganjam had also taken a similar decision to keep close all the shops in all urban areas from 2 pm to 5 am daily for a period of ten days to prevent further spread of the Covid-19.