Shillong, Mar 20 (PTI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced a 24-hour statewide shutdown from Saturday midnight and said it will be observed as 'coronavirus awareness day'.

Speaking to reporters after chairing a Cabinet meeting on Friday, he said all public transport, commercial establishments and markets will remain shut to create awareness about the pandemic among the people of the state.

It is not to be taken as a "lockdown", he urged.

"We are calling it coronavirus awareness day and we will ensure we educate our locality and family members about various precautions such as washing hands and social distancing," he said.

"One day if we close down everything it will send a message of seriousness to everybody and at the same time people should not panic," Sangma added.

He said a lot of people are aware but are not taking enough measures in the wake of the pandemic.

Sangma urged people not to panic in view of the shutdown and asserted there is no shortage of essential commodities in the state.

"There is no need to buy additional food items or buy a large quantity of produce as the supply is very much there," he 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)