Sikkim government today ordered a statewide lockdown from 6 am tomorrow to 6 am on 27th July in view of recent surge in COVID19 cases.<br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports that all government offices, shops, commercial establishments, markets and factories will remain closed except those granted exemptions.<br />''<br />''On Monday, Sikkim reported 22 new COVID19 cases taking active cases to 213 and total cases to 305.<br />''<br />''The lockdown order issued by Sikkim government follows a spate in COVID19 cases across the state and notification of several containment zones, especially in East Sikkim.<br />''<br />''All activities, congregations and movement of people and goods and passenger vehicles have been prohibited barring some exceptions, while educational, training and coaching institutions in Sikkim will remain closed till 31st August, 2020.<br />''<br />''Movement of people and vehicles required for supply of essential goods and for emergency has been allowed. While shops selling essential goods, ration, food items, etc. have been allowed to remain open from 8 am to 5 pm, medical shops can operate till 7 pm.<br />''<br />''All rural activities related to MGNREGA, agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry have been allowed with social distancing.<br />''<br />''For social occasions like marriage, number of attendees has been limited to 20, with prior intimation to authorities and social distancing. Night curfew will be imposed from 7:30 pm to 6 am during the lockdown period.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Separately, All Sikkim Traders Association, which operates the Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex, Gangtok's main wholesale and retail market, has decided to go for self-lockdown for five days from 23rd July to 26th July.</span>