Aizawl, Aug 15 (PTI) The Mizoram government extended the partial lockdown in the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) area and certain restrictions in other parts of the state till August 21, officials said on Sunday.

The restrictions, imposed on August 8, expired on August 14, following which the extension was announced.

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The new order said that it is necessary to continue with the existing guidelines to prevent COVID-19 from further spreading as the state capital continued to register a spike in coronavirus cases.

In the areas outside the AMC, deputy commissioners will devise separate guidelines depending on the COVID-19 situation, the order said.

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The movement of people, including the casual visit of neighbours or relatives within the same complex, except under exceptional cases, is strictly prohibited during the partial lockdown, it said.

Places of worship or religious congregation, educational institutions, picnic spots, public parks, gymnasium, sports practice, tournaments, social gatherings, and trekking or hiking will remain closed or suspended in the AMC area.

However, schools and Anganwadi centres will be allowed to open in COVID-free villages outside the AMC, it said.

Construction work, working at fields or gardens, and essential services will function normally, the order said.

There will be no restriction on agricultural and livelihood activities outside the AMC area.

All Group A and Group B government employees working in the state capital will have to attend their offices without fail, while heads of department or office heads will make the rosters for the Group C and Group D employees, it said.

Shops dealing in essential commodities, eateries and vegetable seeds or materials will open every day between 5 am and 9 am, while shops dealing in other goods, including shops in market places, will be divided into three groups and they will be allowed to open on specific days based on their categorisation from 5 am to 5.30 pm, it said.

Commercial vehicles will be allowed to operate in the state capital, and the traffic superintendent of police will make arrangements to enable both commercial or public transport and private vehicles to operate or ply on a rational basis or on specific days, the order said.

Travelling and intra-state movement is also allowed under very essential circumstances, it said.

Mizoram on Sunday reported 467 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the state's tally to 47,995.

The death toll rose to 181 as one more person succumbed to the infection, a government bulletin said.

At least 589 people were discharged from various COVID-care facilities during the day, taking the total recovery to 37,268, it said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)