Vizianagaram: Here, traders voluntarily imposing self-lockdown

Vizianagaram: The traders of Parvathipuram, Kurupam, Gajapathinagaram and Bobbili are voluntarily imposing self-lockdown to prevent further spread of coronavirus in the district.

Though the government is not imposing lockdown during daytime, the traders' associations and Chamber of Commerce in various towns are voluntarily coming forward to impose self-lockdown as the number of corona cases are rising everywhere. As a result, the traders are opening the shops till the lunch time. Though the district administration is allowing shops to open till 7 PM, the merchant associations are restricting themselves to run their businesses till 2 PM only to contain the spread of corona cases.

After the easing of lockdown curbs, the number of cases is increasing as the thousands of migrant workers returned to their homes. Even the returnees are violating norms of maintaining social distance and wearing masks. Till now Parvathipuram town has reported 20 cases and even in Bobbili, Gajapathinagaram, Kurupam also have cases. Local traders' associations and Chamber of Commerce have organised meetings in these areas and passed a resolution to shut their shops and business establishments by 2 PM.

Parvathipuram Chamber of Commerce chief A Koteswara Rao stated, "Its our social responsibility to curb the virus. So that the we are closing the shops by 2 PM despite suffering loss." The district has crossed 260 cases with 23 discharges on Saturday from Covid hospital.