Assam Govt Announces Total Lockdown in 5 Districts, Day Curfew to be Imposed from 1 PM

GUWAHATI: Assam government on Monday issued a revised set of SOPs in view of the current Covid situation in the state.

Issuing the new guidelines, Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta announced that complete lockdown will be clamped in districts of Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, and Sonitpur from July 19.

Moreover, there will be strict vigilance in the districts of Dibrugarh, Nagaon, and Sivasagar due to rising cases of Covid.

Further, day curfew will be imposed from 1 pm in the districts of Morigaon and Goalpara. Shops and all other commercial establishments will be closed by 12 noon.

The minister stressed that in the rest 27 districts including Kamrup Metropolitan the curfew will remain from 5 pm from 5 am until further notice.

The minister also reiterated that inter-district movement is prohibited.

As per the new SOP, all air & railway passengers even if vaccinated, will have to get tested for COVID-19.

In connection to the Covid-19 testing, the minister informed that all travelers will have to undergo Covid-19 testing; however, travelers inoculated with both doses of the Covid vaccine will be tested for free.

On the other hand, during the celebration of Eid, only 5-persons are allowed to gather, to perform their rituals in Masjids.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has issued a revised and consolidated directive today for both rural and urban areas which will remain in force w.e.f 5 AM of July 20, 2021 until further order.

The salient features of today's order are as follows:

1. There will be total Containment in 5 districts showing high positivity rate in recent days and these are Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts.

2. The curfew in these districts will be for round the clock; however, in the districts showing moderate positivity rate viz. Goalpara and Morigaon districts, it will be from 1 PM to 5 AM and from 5 PM to 5 AM in the districts showing improvement in positivity and case load viz. Dhubri, Kamrup(M), South Salmara, Majuli, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Charaideo, Hailakandi, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Nalbari, Baksa, Bajali, Kamrup, Darrang, Nagaon, Hojai, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Cachar, Karimganj and Karbi Anglong.

3. All work places, business/commercial establishments, shops, dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder, Restaurants, Dhabas and other eateries, Sale counters, showrooms etc. of cold storages and warehouses will be closed till further order in districts showing high positivity rate, will be open up to 12 Noon in districts showing moderate positivity rate and up to 4 PM in districts showing improvement in positivity rate.

4. There will be a total ban on movement of all public and private transport in the total containment districts. However, the movement of goods shall continue.

5. In other districts, All Public transport authorities shall enforce COVID-19 appropriate behavior and seating inside the vehicles, carriers, containers etc.

6. All inter-district passenger transport services and movement of people to and from other districts shall remain suspended.

7. Public gathering is ban in total containment districts. In other districts, up to 10 persons are allowed for marriage or funeral programme.

8. Wearing of face mask is compulsory in all public places.

9. Regarding the celebration of Eid, all persons are to celebrate from their home. Namaz at Mosque is allowed with only 5 persons maximum including the religious head.

10. Excise authority will take strong action against illegal production and sale of country liquor in all the districts.

Other restrictions including odd-even formula for plying of vehicles, declaration of containment zones etc., and exemptions as notified in the order of July 6, 2021 shall continue to remain in force except those specifically modified by this order. 

Whereas, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has vide order of July 6, 2021 issued directives for containment of COVID-19 in both rural and urban areas across the State until further orders;

Whereas, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) vide order dated 29th June, 2021 has directed the States/ UTs to consider implementation of targeted and prompt actions for COVID-19 management as conveyed vide MoHFW advisory dated 28th June,2021 until 31st July, 2021;

Whereas, the situation of COVID-19 in the State has been comprehensively reviewed and observed that, though few districts have shown improvement in the positivity rate, the number of active cases and positivity rate is still high in some districts like Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Biswanath;

AND

Whereas, Goalpara and Morigaon districts, after facing total containment for over 2 weeks, have shown improvement in terms of case load and positivity rate;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers, conferred under Section 22(2) (h) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned, in his capacity as Chairperson, State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority, Assam, do hereby issues the following directives for both rural and urban areas which will remain in force w.e.f 5 AM of July 20, 2021 until further order.

A. Containment Zones:

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 upto 5 PM.

Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through e-commerce in such areas will continue round the clock.

B. Restrictions imposed:

Except for exemptions given in Annexure "A",

C. Other restrictions and relaxations:

1. All Government servants (including contractual and fixed pay) who have taken atleast one dose of COVID-19 vaccine shall attend office except in total containment areas. Private sector entities may take their own decision about 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 I essential services shall attend their duty without any restrictions at any place.

4. The organizations (Government I Private) 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 I PSU I Financial Institutions I 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.

D. Public Transport (Government and Private):

1. There will be a total ban on movement of all public and private transport in the total containment districts. However, movement of goods shall continue.

2. In other districts:

I. All Public transport authorities shall enforce COVID-19 appropriate behavior and seating inside the vehicles, carriers, containers etc.

II. Auto Rickshaws,cycle rickshaws and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers maintaining social distancing.

Ill. Pillion riding will be totally prohibited in two wheelers, except with women and children.

IV. Intra-district transport , with 50% seating capacity and observance of COVID appropriate behaviour, may be allowed.

V. All inter-district passenger transport services and movement of people to and from other districts shall remain suspended .

VI. Wearing of face mask is mandatory even for a single person driving a vehicle. In case of persons travelling in any private car, up to 100 % of its seating capacity, wearing of face mask is mandatory for all the persons.

E. Educational Institutions (Government and Private):

1. All Educational Institutions including Schools/Colleges/Universities shall continue to provide quality virtual options. No physical classes are allowed.

2. 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.

F. Gatherings:

G. Miscellaneous

1. Wearing of face mask is compulsory in all public places.

2. Shop owners shall ensure minimum 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.

3. Shopkeepers and customers shall have to wear masks, hand gloves and maintain social distancing. Responsibility of 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.

4. Industrial units and Tea gardens may function subject to observance of COVID appropriate behaviour. 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.

5. Operation of physical activities of Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) including e-auction are allowed with 20% of the total work force till 3 PM including tea tasting, sampling, brokering. Warehousing is fully exempted.

6. All persons to celebrate Eid from their home. Religious rituals e.g. Namaaz at mosque is allowed with not more than 5 persons including the religious head.

7. Excise authority will continue taking strong action against illegal production and sale of country liquor in all the districts as a covid containment measure.

Other restrictions including odd-even formula for plying of vehicles in urban areas, declaration of containment zones etc. as notified vide Order No.ASDMA.28/2021/63 dated 4th May, 2021 and ASDMA.24/2020/Pt-2/241 dated 12th May 2021 and ASDMA.24/2020/Pt-2/253 dated 15th May 2021 for urban and peripheral areas, restriction on inter district movement issued vide ASDMA.24/2020/Pt-2/255 dated 17th May, 2021, ASDMA/28/2021/90 , dated the 4th June 2021, ASDMA.28/2021/86 dated 25th May, 2021, ASDMA.28/2021/1 08 dated 2151 June, 2021, ASDMA.28/2021/126 dated 26th June, 2021, ASDMA.28/2021/148 dated 61h July, 2021and exemptions via clarifications issued vide Order No.ASDMA.24/2020/Pt-2/250 dated 13th May, 2021 shall continue to remain in force except those specifically modified by this order.

Annexure-A

A Following categories of persons are exempted from the purview of restriction on movement and odd even vehicular regulation (as notified by jurisdictional DDMA) during curfew hours :

1. 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.

2. All Judicial officers I officials of courts of Assam on production of valid Identity card.

3. All private medical personnel such as doctors, nursing staff, paramedical staff etc. and other hospital services (such as hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and other medical & health services),

4. Pregnant women and patients for getting medical /health services.

5. Person coming from/going to Airports/Railway stations/ISBTs allowed to travel on production of valid ticket.

6. Officers/officials related to functioning of offices of Diplomats of various countries as well as persons holding any constitutional post on production of valid Identity card.

7. Electronic and print Media on production of valid Identity card.

8. There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement I transportation of essential I non-essential goods. No separate permission I e-pass will be required for such movements.

9. Movement of persons related to commercial and private establishments providing following essential services/commodities shall be allowed:

I. Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits & vegetables, dairy & milk booths, meat & fish, animal fodder, pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical equipment.

II. Banks, Insurance offices and ATMs.

Ill. Telecommunications, Internet services, Broadcasting and Cable services, IT and IT enabled services.

IV. Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipments through e-commerce .

V. Petrol pumps, LPG, CNG, petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets.

VI. Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services.

VII. Cold storage and warehousing services.

VIII. Private security services.

IX. Manufacturing units of essential commodities.

X. Production units or services, which require continuous process.

10. Persons who are going for COVID-19 vaccination.

11. All the officials/persons entrusted with election related works either by Government authorities or by private enterprises or by the authorities of any political party or contesting candidate on production of a valid Identity card/ engagement letter I appointment order I work order.

12. All the employees I persons involved in operations related to forestry under the Environment & Forest department on production of valid Identity card.

13. Organizations involved in humanitarian I philanthropic works such as supply of cooked food to the COVID patients, feeding of stray animals subject to obtaining prior permission from the jurisdictional DC.

B. Following activities are allowed during curfew hours:

1. All Agricultural implement supply and maintenance activities may be allowed.

2. Hotels which are accommodating quarantined persons, medical and emergency staff, air crew may be allowed to operate with skeletal service.

3. Continuous process industries may be allowed to function, subject to workforce staying in the premises without outwards/inwards movement during the curfew timing.

4. Agricultural and Tea Garden activities shall continue with strict observance of COVID- 19 appropriate behaviour.

5. Activities relating to supply of essential goods from and to FCI establishments shall continue.

6. Hospitals and other related medical establishment including their manufacturing and distribution units both in public and private sector such as dispensaries , chemist and medical equipment shops, laboratories, clinics, nursing homes, ambulances etc. will continue to remain functional. The transportation of all medical personnel, nurses, paramedical staff, other hospital support services be permitted;

7. Private security services shall continue;

8. Manufacturing units of essential commodities shall continue.

9. Railway offices and persons directly linked with operation of passenger and goods trains shall continue to operate.

10. Bank, Insurance Company and other financial institutions are allowed to work with skeletal staff. ATMs shall continue to operate 24x7.

11. Medicine Distributors and C&F can operate round the clock with optimum workforce for maintaining supply chain of medicines.