<p>The Sonitpur district administration of Assam on Sunday ordered the shutting down of weekly 'haats' and cattle markets till March 31 to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.</p>.<p>District Magistrate Manvendra Pratap Singh said the preventive measure has been taken under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.</p>.<p>"All weekly 'haats', cattle markets and other markets of similar nature will remain suspended during this period.</p>.<p><a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-ipl-2020-postponed-till-april-15-799686.html"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here </strong></a></p>.<p>"Assembly of persons in all public places including shops, bus stations and market places has been prohibited," he said.</p>.<p>Singh urged people to maintain a distance of 1-2 metres in banks, pharmacies and hospitals.</p>.<p>He said people entering the district from outside Assam must mandatorily declare their travel history, after which they will be home quarantined.</p>.<p>The district magistrate said that non-essential dealings with the public have to be minimised in the government offices.</p>.<p>He directed the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department to ensure that there is no hoarding or rise in prices of essential commodities.</p>
<p>The Sonitpur district administration of Assam on Sunday ordered the shutting down of weekly 'haats' and cattle markets till March 31 to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.</p>.<p>District Magistrate Manvendra Pratap Singh said the preventive measure has been taken under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.</p>.<p>"All weekly 'haats', cattle markets and other markets of similar nature will remain suspended during this period.</p>.<p><a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-ipl-2020-postponed-till-april-15-799686.html"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here </strong></a></p>.<p>"Assembly of persons in all public places including shops, bus stations and market places has been prohibited," he said.</p>.<p>Singh urged people to maintain a distance of 1-2 metres in banks, pharmacies and hospitals.</p>.<p>He said people entering the district from outside Assam must mandatorily declare their travel history, after which they will be home quarantined.</p>.<p>The district magistrate said that non-essential dealings with the public have to be minimised in the government offices.</p>.<p>He directed the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department to ensure that there is no hoarding or rise in prices of essential commodities.</p>