The State government has asked all hotels and restaurantsto ensure that they do not cut salaries of their staff or resort to layoffs oftheir employees amid the lockdowns imposed to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Revealing this before the media, the Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) Jayanta Malla Baruah stated, "The country is facing a catastrophic situation due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and in order to combat this challenge, coordinated joint efforts of all sections of the society are required," 

Baruah advised the hotel groups to notterminate the services or reduce the wages of their employees.

"We have decided not to organise the annualAmbubachi Mela (fair) in view of the possibility of spreading COVID-19infection," JayantaMalla Baruah said on Saturday.

"The festival will not be held for the firsttime in six centuries, but priests of the temple will perform the ritualsin-house while maintaining social distancing," he added.