Arunachal Pradesh imposes strict measures to curb COVID-19 spurt

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to implement strict measures throughout the State for effective containment of COVID-19, which has alarmingly increased in the past couple of days, a senior health official said here on Friday.

Accordingly, the government has directed all the deputy commissioners to declare containment zones in their districts keeping in view the emerging situation and to strictly enforce COVID appropriate behaviour among the people, Principle Secretary (Health) Dr Sharat Chauhan told a virtual press conference.

He said the decision was taken in a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) during the day which was chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

"The new measures will come into force from 5 AM Saturday and will continue till 5 PM on May 31," Dr Chauhan said adding, violation of Covid protocols would be dealt with sternly.

According to the measures, issuance of tourist inner line permits (ILPs) would be suspended while night curfew would be imposed from 6.30 PM to 5 AM the next day.

The capital administration has already imposed a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am from May 1 to contain the spread of the disease.

Chauhan added that all shops and business establishments shall have to close by 4 PM regularly while restaurants can entertain home deliveries of eateries till 6.30 PM.

The official added that shopkeepers should maintain all Covid standard operating procedures (SOPs) by maintaining distance with the customers and use of sanitisers.

"The people have to strictly follow Covid appropriate behaviour by wearing masks and maintaining social distance. In marriage and funeral, only 20 persons will be allowed to attend," he said.

Chauhan further stated that the government has also decided that only 15 per cent of Group C and D employees would be allowed to attend offices on a roaster basis while for Group A and B 50 per cent attendances would be allowed.

He, however, added that persons with disability and working parents with kids would be allowed to work from home.

"There will be no restriction in inter-state and intra-state movement of people," he added.

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