Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Rajendra has ordered to indefinitely close the Central Market here due to continued increase in COVID-19 cases in the taluk.

The order comes after a meeting the DC held with concerned officials on August 17.

The APMC yard at Baikampady will continue to operate and where the Central Market merchants have been ordered to shift.

Mangaluru taluk has reported a spike in COVID-19 cases in the past several days. It is being assumed that gross violations of precautionary measures such as distancing and mask-wearing at the Central Market by merchants and shoppers could be the cause of the spike.