Panaji, Mar 21 (IANS): The Goa Hotel and Restaurant Association, on Saturday appealed to all establishment owners to shut down their businesses on Sunday and if necessary till March 31 in wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"Goa Hotel and Restaurant Association requests each and every establishment in Goa to take adequate precautions at their places of business in order to help eradicate COVID-19," president of the Association Gaurish Dhond said on Saturday, ahead Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a 'janata curfew' on March 22.

"Kindly close down all our establishments on Sunday (March 22) and could review the situation from Monday, as to whether we need to continue to shut down at least till March 31. Safety of our staff and employees is also important," he also said.

On Saturday, the Goa government locked down its inter-state borders to mass passenger and tourist traffic as well as imposed section 144 CrPC to prevent mass gatherings.

Most public areas including educational institutions, malls, weekly markets, casinos, swimming pools, clubs have been shut down till March 31, as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19.