Assam Government declares new COVID SOPs

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam, on Monday, slightly relaxed the timing of COVID-induced curfew in several districts while still suspending the inter-district movement of transport and public across the State. But within each district, the public transportation system has been allowed with just 50% seat capacity.

Notably, the latest order on the COVID-19 SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) has excluded Lakhimpur and Golaghat districts where the "moderate positive rate or case load is high". The curfew will be in force in both these districts from 2 pm to 5 am daily till further orders. The curfew timing in the remaining 32 districts will be from 5 pm to 5 am daily.

The SOPs added that in the two districts of Lakhimpur and Golaghat, the commercial establishments — including the dine-in restaurants, government and private offices — will remain open only till 1 pm. But the shops dealing with groceries, fruits, vegetables, and items of dairy as well as milk products have been allowed to remain open in these two districts till 5 pm.

The order further stated that depending on the progression of reduction in the caseload, review will be undertaken with respect to the following areas only after August 7, 2021: Restrictions on the inter-district passenger transport service; movement of people to and from other districts; need-based conduct of offline classes in some premier institutions; reopening of religious places; and State-protected monuments and sites among others.

Sources informed The Sentinel, "From August 16, there is a tentative plan to open the inter-district movement; and also allow offline classes for students in the final years in schools, colleges and also universities from September 1, 2021.

Also Read: Assam COVID-19 graph: 784 fresh cases, 15 died of pandemic

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