Complete lockdown in Lakshadweep to continue for seven more days
The Hindu
District Collector says 1,005 COVID-19 cases on islands and high chances for further spread
The Lakshadweep island administration has said that the complete lockdown on Kavaratti, Androth, Kalpeni, Amini, Minicoy and Bitra islands would continue for seven more days from June 7, in view of the test high positivity rate on the islands. In an order issued on Monday, District Collector S. Asker Ali said shops and establishments selling groceries, vegetables and other essential commodities would be allowed to open between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. with prior permission from the District Collector in Kavaratti and from Deputy Collector/block development officers or the authorised officers for Androth, Kalpeni, Amini, Minicoy and Bitra islands. Shops and establishments should open adhering to the COVID-19 protocol, said the order. The District Collector said that the COVID-19 situation had yet not stabilised. There were 1,005 active cases — 484 on Kavaratti; 16 on Agatti; 51 on Amini; 14 on Kadmat; 21 on Kiltan; 14 on Chetlat; 188 on Androth; 24 on Kalpeni; 123 on Minicoy and 70 on Bitra.The fear of being caught for traffic rule violation has indeed compelled many two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. But one cursory look at riders at any traffic junction in Bengaluru shows that more than half the riders have on their heads non-standard helmets, designed solely to evade the eye of law, with little concern for the safety of their own heads.
When Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, Beijing promised to retain the city’s Western-style civil liberties for 50 years. However, since the introduction of the 2020 law, Hong Kong authorities have severely limited free speech and assembly under the rubric of maintaining national security.