Meghalaya: Night curfew in East Khasi Hills District extended up to October 12

Shillong: The District Magistrate of Meghalaya's  East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on October 4 promulgated night curfew in East Khasi Hills district from October 5-12 from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020.

According to notice, the order will not apply to "medical teams and officials on COVID-19 duty, police security and armed forces, civil defence and home guard volunteers, wholesale and retail pharmacies, fire and emergency service, MeECL, NEEPCO and Power Grid, FCI vehicles, officers and staff of corona care centres, press, print and electronic, Information and Public Relations Department, National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., Shillong Municipal Board, and telecom service."

These services shall strictly comply with all protocols and procedures including social distancing, limiting of field staff to the barest minimum, and other advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail.

Movement of vehicles carrying essential goods, security forces, medical equipment and shops for the repair of trucks on highways are also exempted. However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per laid down protocols.

However, the exemption granted to official and nonofficial emergency and essential services, establishments and agencies shall not extend to containment areas declared except for exemption granted in those orders.

Curfew passes for timings falling between 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM with effect from 5th October, 2020 up to 12th October 2020 can be obtained via online application at eastkhasihills.gov.in.

As a measure to prevent the outbreak of the COVID-19, the district administration has also prohibited any assembly or gathering without due permission, operation of unregulated major markets and shopping complexes, border haats and markets located in the inter-state borders in all of East Khasi Hills District including Shillong Urban Agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and C&RD Blocks. This will be in effect from October 5-12 for timings falling between 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day.

The order prohibits the operation of all cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditorium, assembly halls and similar recreational places, all forms of contact sports, competitive sports, events and spectators in sports grounds and stadia. "However, permission for training etc., as per standard operating procedures of Sports and Youth Affairs Department may be granted after due application to the Office of District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills and satisfaction of all conditions," it added.

The order also prohibited all forms of large public gathering and congregation including social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural, etc, without permission from the Office of District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills.

The order also prohibits moving in public, workplaces and during transport without a mask, spitting and consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco, etc. in public places.

The general instruction of the order states that every individual must mandatorily maintain social distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and to strictly follow without fail the various protocols and advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department at all times.

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