Guwahati News Desk: The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has issued a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which to be imposed from July 7 in the State.
The curfew timing in Dhubri, Kamrup Metro, South Salmara, Majuli, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Charaideo, and Hailakandi will be imposed from 5 pm as the positivity rate was seen improving in the recent days.
Due to the sudden increase of COVID-19 cases in Goalpara, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, and Morigaon, these districts are under containment.
Meanwhile, the curfew will be imposed from 2 pm in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Bajali, Kamrup, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Cachar, and Karimganj districts.
In case the test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches more than 10 cases in the last seven days, the jurisdictional District Magistrate will notify such areas as total containment zones in consultation with MD, NHM, and ensure necessary containment measures for COVID-19.
However, in such zones, emergency services will continue round the clock and essential services including shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder, etc will remain open up to 5 PM.
Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through e-commerce in such areas will continue round the clock.
All Officials and persons, both government and private involved in emergency services such as Health and Family Welfare and all related medical establishments, Police, Prisons, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and emergency services, District Administration, Pay & Account Office, Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Public Transport (Air/Railways/Buses) including all incidental services/activities that are essential for smooth functioning of all modes of public transport (such as handling of cargo, ticketing, air freight station, CFS, ICD, etc.), Disaster Management and related services, IMD, CWC, Water Resources Department, PHE, NIC, NCC, Indian Red Cross Society, Postal Department and Municipal services, and all other essential services on production of valid Identity card. The uninterrupted delivery of public services shall be ensured by the concerned departments/agencies.
All Judicial officers & officials of courts of Assam on the production of valid Identity cards.
All private medical personnel such as doctors, nursing staff, paramedical staff, etc. and other hospital services (such as hospitals, diagnostic centers, clinics, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, and other medical & health services).
Pregnant women and patients for getting medical/health services.
A person coming from/going to Airports/Railway stations/ISBTs allowed to travel on the production of a valid ticket.
Officers/officials related to the functioning of offices of Diplomats of various countries as well as persons holding any constitutional post on the production of valid Identity cards.
Electronic and print media on production of valid Identity cards.
There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement/transportation of essential/non-essential goods. No separate permission/e-pass will be required for such movements.
Movement of persons related to commercial and private establishments providing the following essential services/commodities shall be allowed:
Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits & vegetables, dairy & milk booths, meat & fish, animal fodder, pharmaceuticals, medicines, and medical equipment.
Banks, Insurance offices, and ATMs.
Telecommunications, Internet services, Broadcasting and Cable services, IT and IT-enabled services.
Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical types of equipment through e-commerce.
Petrol pumps, LPG, CNG, petroleum, and gas retail and storage outlets.
Power generation, transmission, and distribution units and services.
Other restrictions and relaxations:
1. All Government servants (including contractual and fixed pay) who have taken at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine shall attend office except in total containment areas. Private sector entities may take their own decision about the attendance of their employees on this account.
2. Employees who have not taken vaccine will have to attend office as and when their services are required by respective authorities.
3. Employees engaged in emergency essentials services shall attend their duty without any restrictions at any place.
4. The organizations (GovernmentIPrivate) rendering Essential/Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Services, and Election work will continue working without any restrictions in all districts.
5. Pregnant women employees and women with children of 5 years or below working under any Government/PSU/Financial Institutions/ Private Organizations irrespective of their grade shall be eligible to work from home.
6. Persons with disabilities (PwDs) working in any Government/PSU/ Financial Institutions/Private organizations shall be exempted from attending duties in consonance with the O.M No.11013/9/2014/Estt.(A.lll) dated 1st April 2020 issued by DoPT, Gol. However, they may be encouraged to work from home.
Public Transport (Government and Private):
There will be a total ban on the movement of all public and private transport in the total containment districts. However, the movement of goods shall continue.
In other districts:
a) All Public transport authorities shall enforce COVID-19 appropriate behavior and seating inside the vehicles, carriers, containers, etc.
b) Auto Rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers maintaining social distancing.
c) Pillion riding will be totally prohibited in two-wheelers, except with women and children.
d) Intra-district transport with 50% seating capacity with observance of COVID appropriate behavior may be allowed.
e) All inter-district passenger transport services and movement of people to and from other districts shall remain suspended.
f) Wearing of face mask is mandatory even for a single person driving a vehicle. In case of persons traveling in any private car, up to 100 percent of its seating capacity, wearing of face mask is mandatory for all the persons.
Educational Institutions (Government and Private):
a) All Educational Institutions including Schools/Colleges/Universities shall continue to provide quality virtual options. No physical classes are allowed.
b) Teachers I Faculty members need not attend their respective institution but if District Administration engages in COVID 19 I flood relief related emergency duties, they will have to attend assigned duties.
Miscellaneous:
a) Wearing of face mask is compulsory in all public places.
b) Shop owners shall ensure a minimum of six feet distance among customers and shall not allow more than 5 persons inside the shop. In addition, shop owners should compulsorily keep sanitizers and hand wash in their shops.
c) Shopkeepers and customers shall have to wear masks, hand gloves and maintain social distancing. Responsibility for maintenance of social distancing will be on the shop owner and failure to do so will be viewed very seriously and may entail summary closure of defaulting shops.
d) Industrial units and Tea gardens may function subject to observance of COVID appropriate behavior. The Head of the unit/tea garden shall be responsible for ensuring social distancing, mask-wearing by workers and staff, sanitization of industrial premises, thermal scanning, etc.
e) Operation of physical activities of Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) including e-auction are allowed with 20% of the total workforce till 3 PM including tea tasting, sampling, brokering. Warehousing is fully exempted.
The Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta urges the people of Assam to maintain complete protocol as the cases were seen increasing. In the month of June, the COVID-19 positive cases were seen decreased in early June but now the cases were seen increasing.
