New COVID-19 SOP comes into effect with more relaxations in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A fresh COVID-19 SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) came into effect today with more relaxations.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta said that shops and other business establishments would remain open till 9 pm, and curfew would start from 10 pm.

According to the new SOP, cinema halls would reopen from today. However, the department took no-decision in the case of mobile theatres. Programmes in permanent auditoriums can go on with 50 per cent of the capacity crowd.

The minister said that in iconic religious places, 60 fully vaccinated devotees could visit per hour. "In other religious places, 40 fully-vaccinated devotees can visit per hour," he said.

Keshab Mahanta said, "The new SOP allows meetings and other social functions in open spaces with 50 people without any permission from the deputy commissioners. However, the organizers will have to inform the local police stations of holding such programmes. Two hundred fully vaccinated people can attend marriage receptions, etc., with permission from deputy commissioners.

"Cinema halls will issue tickets for only 50 per cent of their seat capacities. Cinemagoers will have to show proof of taking both vaccine doses at the time of buying tickets.

"For schools, we have already issued a separate SOP. We are allowing more relaxations as the number of Covid-19 positive cases keep falling gradually.

"Vaccination is mandatory for all beneficiaries of government schemes. The scheme beneficiaries who have not yet taken both doses of vaccine should take vaccines by October. We will review the vaccination status of scheme beneficiaries in December-end. If we find any beneficiary not taking vaccine doses, the name will get struck off from the beneficiary list."

The minister further said, "We have achieved the seven lakh single-day vaccination target on September 17. We have set another single-day vaccination target of seven lakh on October 2."

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