Keeping in view of improvement in the state’s Covid19 situation, the Assam government on Tuesday issued a new SOP, announcing relaxations in the restrictions being imposed to prevent the spread of the infection.
Announcing this during a press conference at the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati, Assam health minister Keshab Mahanta said the new SOP will come into effect from 5 am of August 18, 2021 until further orders.
The revised and consolidated directive has been issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) for both rural and urban areas.
The Assam government has announced relaxations in the curfew hours.
As per the new SOP, the night curfew in all the districts of Assam will remain effective from 7 pm to 5 am.
Health minister Mahanta announced that the inter-district movement of people has been allowed across the state except to and from Kamrup (Metro) district.
“Inter-district public transport, however, shall remain suspended,” he said.
According to Tuesday’s order, all work places, business/commercial establishments, dine in restaurants, hotels, resorts, dhabas and other eateries, takeaway of food items from restaurants/dhabas and other eateries, opening of sale counters, showrooms, etc. of cold storages and warehouses, shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder will be open up to 6 PM across the state.
The physical classes in respect of the final year of graduate/post-graduate engineering/medical colleges, GNM, nursing courses and that of aeronautical engineering college may be allowed to be started with fully vaccinated students, it said.
Meeting/gathering at any open or closed spaces is allowed up to 200 persons in open spaces (for public function) and up to 50% of the hall capacity or 200 fully vaccinated persons whichever is lower in closed venues.
Functions related to the national/international days, the ceiling will be up to 50% capacity of the hall.
Public gathering is allowed up to 25 persons for marriage/funeral programme.
Religious places are allowed to open with up to 20 fully vaccinated persons per hour for iconic places and 10 fully persons per hour for other religious places.
As per the new order, cinema/theatre halls will continue to remain closed.
Wearing of face mask is compulsory in all public places.
“Excise authority will take strong action against illegal production and sale of country liquor in all the districts,” the order said.
Other restrictions including the declaration of containment zones, etc. and exemptions as notified in the order of August 9, 2021 shall continue to remain in force except those specifically modified by the new order,