Assam Govt Releases New SOP, District Wise Restrictions Imposed

Whereas, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) vide order dated 27th May, 2021 has urged the States/ UTs to continue compliance to the containment measures as envisaged in MHA order dated 29th April, 2021 till 301h June, 2021 .

Whereas, the situation of COVID-19 in the State has been critically reviewed and observed that, though the number of COVID-19 patients and positivity rate is declining in some districts, the number of active cases and positivity rate in the last 7 days is still high in some districts.

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 June 28, 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:

1. All Public transport authorities shall enforce COVID-19 appropriate behavior and seating inside the vehicles, carriers, containers etc.
2. Auto Rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers maintaining social distancing.
3. Pillion riding will be totally prohibited in two wheelers, except with women and children
4. Intra-district transport with 50% seating capacity with observance of COVID appropriate behavior may be allowed.
5. All inter-district passenger transport services and movement of people to and from other districts shall remain suspended.
6. 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. ·

Other restrictions including odd-even formula for plying of vehicles, 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, ASDMN28/2021/90, dated the 4th June 2021 , ASDMA .28/2021/86 dated 25th May, 2021 , ASDMA.28/2021 / 108 dated 21st June, 2021 and 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:
1. Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits & vegetables , dairy & milk booths, meat & fish, animal fodder , pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical equipment.
2. Banks, Insurance offices and ATMs
3. Telecommunications, Internet services, Broadcasting and Cable services, IT and IT enabled services
4. Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipments through e-commerce.
5. Petrol pumps, LPG, CNG, petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets.
6. Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services.
7. Cold storage and warehousing services.
8. Private security services
9. Manufacturing units of essential commodities
10. 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.