The Assam chief secretary has issued new guidelines, restricting large gatherings as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID19 infection.
“No gathering in excess of 50 persons shall be organized” with effect from December 24, 2020 till January 10, 2021, said an order issued by Assam chief secretary Jishnu Barua.
The order said: “It is generally noticed that around the year-end there are events organized in which large gatherings take place and certain festivities are also organized leading to excessive crowding of enclosed spaces.”
Expressing concern over non-maintenance of proper social distancing in gathering, the chief secretary in the order said “such large gatherings in enclosed spaces without proper social distancing and maintenance of other COVID-19 protocols run the risk of spread of Coronavirus”.
This also “may give rise to serious difficulties in contact tracing, thereby adversely affecting containment of the spread of COVID-19”, the order said.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID19, the chief secretary has brought partial modifications in the urgent order No.ASDMA.24/2020/Part-1/125, issued on November 27, 2020 along with MHA Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I (A), issued on November 25, 2020.
The order said: “In any given enclosed space, whether private or public, the total number of attendees shall in any case not exceed 50% of the capacity of such space.”
In case of outdoor events, the gathering shall be restricted to ensure physical distancing being maintained at all times, the chief secretary said in the order.
It has been ordered that any or all religious festivities are encouraged to be conducted, preferably inside homes.
“Where religious functions are required to be observed in places of public gathering, adequate social distancing and all other protocols of Covid management are to be followed strictly,” said the order.