The scene at Machkhowa vegetable market in Guwahati on Wednesday morning Credit: Mukut Medhi

Guwahati: Although the Assam government had announced ‘Unlock 1.0’ as part of easing lockdown restrictions in Kamrup (Metro) district, in which Guwahati falls, residents of the city seemed to have taken it a bit too lightly.

As per a notification issued by chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, all shops and business establishments have been allowed to operate on one side of any street on any given day and the opposite side on alternate days between Monday and Friday from 7 am to 5 pm.

Additionally, shopkeepers have been allowed to operate with only 50% of employees. Also, all the shopkeepers and customers have been asked to follow all the COVID-19 norms including wearing masks and practising social distancing.

Also Read: Assam: With 1,680 new COVID-19 cases, state’s tally hits 26,772

The ground reality, however, is on a totally different dimension as the photos below will show:

The vegetable market in Machkhowa ]was filled with buyers and sellers on all doing their business in close proximity on Wednesday morning
People arriving in hordes showing blatant disregard to social distancing norms
Guwahati alone reported 570 COVID-19 positive cases on Tuesday

Also Read: Now showing: Assamese film ‘Aei Maatite’ at Lockdown Film Festival

Many people could be seen wearing their masks but keeping their mouth and nose totally exposed
Recent researches have confirmed the fact that airborne transmission of COVID-19 is possible and masks and social distancing is the only way out to prevent further contamination
Guwahati’s Machkhowa is just one example where blatant disregard of lockdown norms are being witnessed

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