Traders across steel city will keep their establishments closed on Sunday in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a self-imposed Janata Curfew.

The members of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) took the decision at a meeting at Chamber Bhavan in Bistupur on Friday.

“All shops — jewellery, wholesale and retail, Krishi Utpadan Bazar Samiti, restaurants/hotels and professional firms will remain closed on Sunday. The traders have been asked to stay at home. We have urged traders not to indulge in hoarding and want to request people to desist from panic buying,” SCCI general secretary Bharat Vasani said.

The meeting was also attended by SCCI president Ashok Bhalotia, former president and a senior state functionary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Suresh Sonthalia and other senior office bearers of SCCI, the largest trade outfit of Kolhan region.

In his address to the nation on Thursday, the Prime Minister made a fervent appeal to all citizens to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid getting infected by coronavirus.

He called for a Janata Curfew from 7am to 9pm on March 22, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should go out of the house.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has welcomed the proactive steps taken by both the Centre and state government to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation. The CII encourages the industry to follow the government directives in this difficult time and wholeheartedly extend all support to the government and local authorities. The CII appeals to citizens to be safe and call the official helpline numbers immediately if they experience any symptoms. People should also proactively stay in self-isolation if they have recently travelled to any of the affected countries or were in any risk situation. Together we shall meet these challenges and prevail,” said Sanjay Sabherwal, the new chairman of CII Jharkhand State Council.