Shillong, May 17: Night curfew has been extended in East Khasi Hills district for the next eight days starting from Monday.

Deputy Commissioner for East Khasi Hills district, Matsiewdor War Nongbri said the night curfew was extended from May 18 to May 25 from 7pm to 6am daily in view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19.

Security forces, pharmacies, media, essential services, online/home food delivery, post and telegraph, IT services, petrol pumps, authorized workshops and designated spare parts dealerships of Health & Family Welfare Department and government officials on duty among others are exempted from purview of the curfew.

In her order, Nongbri prohibited inter-district and inter-state movement besides operation of major markets and shopping complexes in all commercial locations.

“Any assembly whatsoever and while enforcing this every individual to mandatorily maintain social distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and to strictly follow the various protocols and advisories of the government in the Health and Family Welfare Department at all times, without fail,” She said.

“Operations of all cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasium, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditorium, assembly halls and similar the recreational places is also prohibited,” she said.

Nongbri said hotel and hospitality services other than those used as quarantine facilities and housing stranded persons and tourists are allowed to operate.

On vehicle movement, she said authorized public vehicles of Transport Department and private vehicles moving with a pass in Shillong urban agglomeration will be allowed to move with two passengers and driver for four-wheelers, one pillion rider restricted only to female and child below the age of 12 years with driver for two-wheelers and to utilize only 50 percent of seating capacity.

“The curfew was put in place preventive measures and awareness, to indentify and to take stringent more steps to ensure social distancing so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminate in the district, by way of ensuring observance of strict protocols of the advisories the issued by the State health department,” Nongbri said.