Assam eases restrictions in fresh Covid guidelines
Assam government Covid guidelines now make it mandatory for employees of government-run organisations who have taken both the doses vaccine to attend office.
The Assam government on Monday issued fresh set of guidelines to check the spread of coronavirus disease cases (Covid-19) in the state.
As several districts in Assam witnessed a declining positivity rate, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority revised the restrictions that will come into effect from Tuesday.
Assam government decided to ease the restrictions in districts such as South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Majuli, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Charaideo and Udalguri, between 5am to 5pm daily as these have been recording less than 400 daily cases for the past 10 days.
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However, there will total ban on the movement of people between 2pm and 5am in Kamrup metropolitan district.
The government said it would keep a close watch on districts such as Cachar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur and Nagaon, which have been witnessing high positivity rate, and might impose stricter restrictions to control the spread of the infection.
Measures for districts
The latest guidelines read that the government-run and private offices can operate till 1pm in Kamrup metropolitan district while in districts with less than 400 daily cases, they can stay open till 4pm.
The time limit will be applicable on shops, commercial establishments as well as on dine-in restaurants and eateries.
Guidelines for employees
The guidelines now make it mandatory for employees of government-run organisations who have taken both the doses vaccine against Covid-19 to attend office.
It further says government officers in the rank of deputy secretary and above and senior executives in private sectors and their key support staff will be required to attend office in case of emergency requirement irrespective of their vaccination statuses.
However, pregnant women and those with children the below the age of 5 years in both government and private sector offices will be allowed to work from home.
Meanwhile, the organisations rendering essential and emergency services have been kept outside the ambit of restrictions.
Movement of vehicles
Taxis, autos and cycle rickshaws can operate with two passengers and a driver after maintaining Covid-appropriate norms while the guidelines make pillion riding prohibited in two-wheelers, except with women and children. The norms make it mandatory for every occupant of four-wheelers to wear face masks all the time. “Wearing of face mask is mandatory even for a single person driving a vehicle,” the guidelines say.
Public transport vehicles can run with the city with only seated passengers adhering to physical distancing protocol.
However, inter-district transport services and the movement of the people between districts remains suspended.
Norms for ceremonies
All educational institutes are allowed to function virtually, in the latest guidelines.
Issuing regulations for weddings, the Assam government said only the religious ceremony involved in marriages are permitted with a gathering of 10 people, while parties are prohibited.
Only 10 people can attend a funeral adhering to physical distancing norms.
Religious places continue to remain shut for common people and only priests are allowed to perform daily rituals.
The government has allowed hotels and resorts to operate and also the dine-in facilities for in-house guests to stay open as per the discretion of such properties.
Even as weekly markets continue to stay shut the delivery of essential goods through e-commerce are allowed.
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Assam has in place a series of restrictions in both urban and rural areas for the containment of Covid-19 cases from May onward when the state saw a spurt in the number of infections as the deadly second wave of the pandemic struck. The state's Covid-19 tally on Monday rose to 4,82,505 with 1,775 more people testing positive for the infection.
