Team Herald
PANJIM: The busiest roads and markets across the State remained quiet and empty on Sunday, as Goa, grappling under unprecedented number of COVID-19 cases, entered 15-daylong State-wide curfew.
The curfew, aimed at breaking the chain of spiralling Coronavirus infections, was clamped from 7 am on Sunday and will continue till 7 am on May 24.
Almost all the shops, barring those selling essential items, medicines, vegetable and fruit vendors, remained shut. Grocery shops are allowed to remain open from 7 am to 1 pm everyday during the curfew period.
On Day 1 of the curfew, most Goans preferred to stay at home. The food delivery service agents were amongst those seen on the roads as the Disaster Management Authority has given permission to restaurants for home delivery services.
The Goa Police maintained a strict vigil across State to ensure no violation of Section 144 CrPC, with minor barricading-cum-check-posts. Several commuters, who were found moving out without reason, were warned and sent back home.
In some places, the police had to close down shops selling essential commodities following public rush in the morning.
The government has continued its ban on functioning of casinos, river cruises, gym, pubs, hotels and restaurants for dine-in, saloon and spa, religious places, cinema theatre, educational institutions, etc, during the curfew period.
The municipal and fish markets were shut as per the government order.
However, the government has exempted medical stores, petrol pumps, banks, ATMs, agriculture activities, industrial sectors, construction activities, government departments, private sector employees from the purview of curfew.
Battling COVID-19 pandemic with increasing strain on medical infrastructure, the State government from April 29 evening had imposed State-wide restrictions. However, the Coronavirus graph continued to witness a surge, with Goa ranking at the top with highest positivity rate in the country.
