Restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus continued in Kashmir for the 36th consecutive day on Thursday, even as the authorities are contemplating to take critical decisions to strengthen the lockdown in the wake of the violations at some places, officials said.
They said the security forces have sealed off main roads in most places in the Valley and erected barriers at several other places to check the unwanted movement of the people and to enforce the lockdown.
The administration has said the essential services including healthcare personnel have been exempted from the restrictions and only persons with valid movement passes are allowed passage.
The declared containment or red zones across the valley have been sealed off to ensure strict adherence to the standard operating procedure.
The markets across the valley were shut and public transport was off the roads with only pharmacies and groceries allowed to open, the officials said.
Educational institutions across Kashmir are closed, while all public places including gymnasiums, parks, clubs and restaurants were shut down more than a week before the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While the prime minister announced the country-wide lockdown on the evening of March 24, the union territory administration here had on March 22 announced a lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir till 31 March as part of its efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.