The spike in Covid-19 infections in Siliguri — with around 125 active cases — prompted traders of Hong Kong Market and Bidhan Market to down their shutters till June 30 at least.

Hong Kong Market, which traders last week decided to rename soon in the wake of India’s face-off with Chinese troops, closed on Monday. It has around 1,500 traders, most selling Chinese goods. Traders had also expressed their reluctance to sell Chinese goods in future. Bidhan Market, the city’s largest with around 1,600 traders, will shut from Wednesday.

Hong Kong Market Byabsayee Samiti joint secretary Tapan Saha said new Covid-19 cases were being reported under Siliguri Municipal Corporation daily, and shop owners feared the pandemic would spread if the market stayed open.

Covid-19 cases have emerged in Bidhan Market in the past four days. Raju Dey, the joint secretary of the association of Bidhan Market shop owners, said the market area was sanitised on Monday afternoon. “We convened an emergency meeting and decided to close down the market from Wednesday to prevent the spread of the virus,” Dey added.