Assam And Meghalaya Government Took Decision Amid Lockdown, Liquor Shops Open From Today

There have been questions in many states regarding the sale of liquor during the lockdown. Whether it is a case of alcohol sales continuing after the lockdown in Haryana, or a doctor's advice to provide alcohol to people in Kerala on the increasing cases of suicides. Amid the lockdown, Assam and Meghalaya, two states in the North East, have decided to open liquor shops from Monday. In an order issued on Sunday, the Assam Excise Department allowed liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, furnaces to open from Monday. Although the bars will remain closed.

The stores have been told to work with "minimum staff" and to provide hand sanitizers to customers and employees while handling bottle and cash. Bulk warehouses, bottle plants, breweries and distillers must operate 50% of their regular employees and workers . They will also have to make arrangements for staff to live on the premises or nearby location.

An official told on the condition of anonymity that since the lockout started, the manufacture and sale of illegal country liquor has increased manifold. If authorized shops are not allowed to open, people are likely to die due to consumption of illicit liquor.

Significantly, one third of the world suffering from Corona is locked down, including India. Here, the number of corona victims reached beyond eight thousand. According to data released late Sunday evening by the Union Health Ministry, the number of patients has reached 8447 while the number of dead has reached 273. 31 died in the last twenty four hours while 918 more people were hit by Corona. Before the lockdown commenced on 25 March, the number in the country was 606 and on 17 March it had increased by 17%. The number of corona patients has reached 8447 on 12 April but the daily growth rate is down from 17 per cent to 12.4%.