'No-full vaccination, no-entry' rule in force in Assam

 3rd wave is spreading fast in rural areas as well

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The state administration has barred the access of people who have not taken both Covid-19 vaccine doses to all public places from today.

Many private establishments like malls started checking the vaccination status of visitors today. They sent back many visitors who could not produce their certificates for double-dose vaccines.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made it crystal clear yet again today that "barring hospitals, people who have not taken both the Covid doses will have no access to any public place. If anyone violates this rule, the institutions or organizations concerned will have to bear the brunt".

According to Health department sources, the 'no-full vaccination, the no-entry rule has been imposed at all places from today. Business establishments need bar any without taking both vaccine doses enters their complexes. Anyone missing the date of the second dose will not get free treatment in government hospitals, sources said.

It is not all. Government officials not fully vaccinated cannot attend their offices. According to departmental sources, they will also not get their salaries.

Talking to The Sentinel, a health official said, "We have taken all such measures to resist the fast spread of the third wave of Covid-19 virus in the state. This wave has already reached the rural areas of the state. On January 7, the number of new Covid-19 cases in Majuli was zero. However, it rose to 35 on January 14. Likewise, in South Salmara, there was only one case on January 7, and it was 19 on January 14, 206 from 31 in Dhemaji, 235 from 39 in Nalbari, 1077 from 205 in Jorhat and 1348 from 147 in Cachar during the past seven days. The number of cases in Guwahati jumped to 6,835 from 1,855 in a week.

"The Covid-19 positivity rate in the state has exceeded its peak of the first and second waves. The peak positivity rates on the first and the second waves were between six and seven per cent. However, in just 14 days, the positivity rate of the wave is around 7.80 per cent. It is a clear signal of how fast the virus may spread in the time to come. The situation may turn for the worse from Monday next."

The challenging task for the government is checking the vaccination status during transportation, especially in short-distance buses and city buses. Conductors and other crew members of such public carriers may not be qualified to check such certificates. And here comes the role of the transport associations.

Also Read:  3,390 new Covid-19 cases detected in Assam, positivity rate 9.87%

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