The lockdown laid down by the Assam government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus come into effect from 6pm on Tuesday.

The announcement was made by state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday evening.

The Telegraph answers your questions on the restrictions.

⚫When are the complete safety restrictions coming into force?

From 6pm on Tuesday, March 24 and will continue till March 31 midnight.

⚫Does it mean that I cannot step out of home at all?

People are required to stay at home and come out only for basic services while strictly following social distancing guidelines issued earlier. No congregation in masjid or mandir or namghar allowed, only three persons will be allowed at a time.

⚫What do basic services mean?

Procurement of basic necessities such as food, medicine and fuel etc.

⚫Will shops be open?

Only groceries and pharmacies will remain open. Fish and poultry outlets will remain closed.

⚫What about petrol and cooking gas?

Petrol pumps will remain open as will LPG services.

⚫And medicines?

Medicine shops and their transportation will be open. Hospitals will remain open. Health services, including that provided by the private sector, is bracketed in the essential services category.

⚫Will transport be available?

No public transport service, including taxis and auto-rickshaws, will be permitted.

The restriction will cover private buses also. Private cars can run if the objective is for procuring basic services or tackling emergencies. Those dealing with their storage and transportation of essential items can function.

⚫What about app cabs?

No app based cabs will be allowed.

⚫If no trains run, can vegetables reach markets?

No vegetable shops will be allowed to run.

⚫What if I need to buy essential supplies such as rice and oil and I do not have a car?

You will have to depend on the nearest shop for essential commodities.

⚫Will alcohol be sold?

No.

⚫What about trains?

All trains services, except goods, stand suspended except those which are on their way to their respective destinations.

⚫What about flights?

All flights have been cancelled from midnight of March 24 barring those ferrying essential commodities.

⚫Can I go to work?

No. But you can go to work if your establishment, including that in the private sector, is involved in providing any of the following essential services.

•Health services;

•Police, armed forces and paramilitary forces;

•Electricity, water and conservancy services;

•Fire, civil defence and emergency services,

•Telecom, internet, IT and ITES and postal services;

•Banks and ATMs;

•Food, including public distribution system and groceries;

•Petrol pumps

•Medicine shops

•Print and electronic media;

⚫What if there is a dispute about whether my area of work falls among essential services?

If there is any doubt whether any establishment is essential or not, the district magistrate/ municipal commissioner shall be the competent authority to decide.

⚫What if I have returned from abroad recently?

All foreign returnees and other such persons so required by the health personnel are directed to remain under strict home quarantine for a period for 14 days and contact hospitals immediately if symptoms of Covid-19 are detected.

⚫If I step out to buy food, can I form a group and go?

No.

⚫What if I flout the safety restrictions?

Any person found violating these instructions may be jailed for six months for first violation and two years for repeated offenders.

⚫How will banks and ATMs function?

Banks and ATMs have been excluded from the restrictions. The banks have been left to make the systems to run the essential services like cash deposits and withdrawals get going. Customers will have to depend on digital banking for payments and other services.

⚫Who are empowered to enforce the order that notified the complete safety restrictions?

All district magistrates, police commissioners, municipal commissioners, SPs, ADMs, CMOHs, SDOs, BDOs and executive magistrates are authorised to take all necessary measures for enforcing and implementing the instructions. All local police authorities shall extend necessary assistance as and when requisitioned by the officers.