Meghalaya is likely to continue with the current restrictions even after the lockdown 3.0 ends on Sunday.
Informing this on Saturday, a senior government official said the existing restrictions on opening of shops, regulation on movement of public and private transportation, and closure of educational institutions would continue.
However, the official did not provide a specific date as to when the restrictions would be lifted.
Meghalaya has been relaxing several economic activities over the last few weeks especially in “green zones” where there have been no cases of Covid-19. These include opening of all types of shops in rural areas, and operation of 50 per cent of public and private transportation.
From Monday, Meghalaya has allowed the opening of tea stalls in rural areas, excluding those located along the highways.
The government has also ordered that from Monday, all government offices in the state shall function at 100 per cent strength for group A and B officers, and 50 per cent strength for group C and D staff.
But within the Shillong agglomeration, which has witnessed 13 positive cases, of which, there is currently only one active case, the government has not allowed the reopening of big commercial areas located in Iewduh and Khyndailad.
Over the last few days, the state has also witnessed the return of citizens from different parts of the country.
Till Friday, about 4,681 citizens have returned and have been asked to undergo home quarantine.
But many of these are also undergoing quarantine in centres set up by localities/villages.
There was a concern after the government found that around 400 citizens who have returned to Meghalaya from other parts of the country had violated self-quarantine protocols.
The government has warned all those who are undergoing quarantine not to violate the norms.
“We have taken strong cognisance of this (violation), and we would like to warn those people who violated the guidelines of quarantine. They should not take things likely,” deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said on Friday.
