The Meghalaya government will allow the reopening of Ïewduh and the weekly markets from next week, following lifting of restrictions on several activities and services amidst the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Conrad K. Sangma government on Tuesday gave its approval to reopen Ïewduh, but with riders.

The largest market, located in the heart of Shillong, houses more than 5,000 shops/establishments.

Of these, the East Khasi Hills district administration, along with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), and the chief of Mylliem state, have identified 1,222 shops/establishments that will be allowed to reopen.

Deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that from June 22, only 30-33 per cent of the 1,222 shops will be allowed to reopen on a rotational basis.

However, shops selling meat, fish, betel nut and leaves, vegetables and books within Ïewduh will remain closed.

He said as there are shops operating in other parts of the city, which sell these products, it was felt that those located in Ïewduh should be closed for the time being.

The government also decided not to allow hawkers to operate in Ïewduh but the district administration has been asked to identify locations from where the hawkers can operate.

Tynsong said the decision to reopen Ïewduh was to allow the shop owners to restart their business.

At the same time, the reopening of Ïewduh would facilitate buyers to procure products, which are unavailable in other stores.

The weekly markets across the state will also reopen from June 29.

However, the border haats operating along the international border with Bangladesh, and inter-state weekly markets along the Meghalaya-Assam border, will remain closed.

Tynsong said both sellers and buyers would have to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures and protocols relating to Covid-19.

Nod to restaurants, beauty parlours

In another press conference on Wednesday, Tynsong told reporters that the government had also given a green signal for the reopening of restaurants, saloons, beauty parlours across the state from June 22.

However, restaurants located along the national highways would remain shut.

He said the health department would be coming up with standard operating procedures and protocols to be adhered to by operators and customers in restaurants, beauty parlours and saloons.

Covid recoveries

The state has recorded two more recoveries on Tuesday after two patients were tested negative for Covid-19 in West Garo Hills.

Director of health services Dr Aman Warr,said the state currently has 28 recovered cases while there were 15 active cases.

Till date, 14,188 samples have been sent for testing, of which 13,649 have tested negative, while the results of 495 samples are awaited. The state has recorded only one Covid-19 death so far.

As most the positive cases have been asymptotic, Dr Warr said the patients were only isolated, kept under observation and provided with vitamins to boost their immunity.

For the symptomatic patients, medicines like paracetamol and antibiotics were administered.