Taking Cognizance of the Covid19 situation, The Ladakh Administration on Monday extended curfew till May 17 to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The essential item shops, including grocery, meat, chicken, dairy products, vegetables, and bakeries, were allowed to open every day from 8 am to 1 pm, he told media here.

The curfew was earlier scheduled to end today. Ladakh District disaster management authority (DDMA) Chairman Shrikant Suse said stringent action would be taken against the violators.

He said essential supplies would be made available for people living in far-off places, which don't have such stores. Stressing that people were exploiting relaxation and exemptions, he said the movement of vehicles would not be allowed.

The DDMA Office would provide vehicle movement passes on a need basis for emergencies, he added. The Chairman requested people to not spread unwanted rumors and appealed to them to comply with the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs).

The restrictions, he said, would help health employees get a ''much-needed'' break. Further, he has sought feedback from the head of departments regarding the rosters prepared for government employees.

Germany says it would give the J&J Covid-19 vaccine primarily to those aged 60 and up

Migrants Reaching Mediterranean Island by boat crosses 2,000

Israel delays Palestinian eviction hearing after clashes, postpones the hearing in a legal case