From Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI: The Assam government has announced a complete lockdown (total containment order) in seven districts where the positivity rate of Covid-19 cases are high.
This will come into force from Wednesday, according to the fresh standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) here on Tuesday.
A round-the-clock curfew will be clamped in Goalpara, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Morigaon as the number of coronavirus cases in these districts continued to increase despite imposition of certain restrictions earlier, state health minister Keshab Mahanta said releasing the fresh SOP at a press conference here.
These seven districts have been brought under the containment zones, Mahanta said, adding that rural and tea garden areas in these districts have been reporting a substantial number of Covid-19 cases in the last week.
The positivity rates in the seven districts were recorded between 2.68 percent and 5.64 percent in the last weeks, Mahanta said.
“There will be a total ban on the movement of all public and private transport in these districts, though goods vehicles will be allowed to operate,” the minister said.
All the workplaces, business and commercial establishments, shops, restaurants and other eateries, cold storages and warehouses will be closed till further order in these districts where high positivity rates prevail, Mahanta said.
These facilities will remain open up to 1 pm every day in 16 other districts where ‘moderate’ Covid positivity rates have been recorded, and the curfew will remain in force from 2 pm to 5 am.
These districts include Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Nalbari, Baksa, Bajali, Kamrup, Darang, Nagaon, Hojai, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Cachar, Karimganj and Karbi Anglong, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh will be kept under a strict vigil for the next one week by the authorities, the minister also said.
Curfew restrictions for Guwahati city remained unchanged even as there is a minor spike in the number of covid-19 positive cases in the city.
In the city, the movement of people has been restricted from 5 pm to 5 am while the shops and business establishments have to down their shutters by 4 pm.
Along with the capital city, 11 districts will have curfew restrictions from 5 pm to 5 am.
The curfew will also be enforced from 5 pm to 5 am in Dhubri, South Salmara, Majuli, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Charaideo and Hailakandi where the Covid-19 situation has improved, the minister said.
The minister appealed to parents who have children below 18 years of age to be cautious as they can spread the disease among minors who are not yet vaccinated. Over 36,000 children have contracted the disease so far in Assam and at present, there are 2,890 active patients below 18 years of age, he said.
Altogether, 38 children have succumbed to the disease so far. Most of them either had comorbidities or were suffering from congenital diseases, the minister added. Assam currently has 22,243 active cases, and the overall positivity rate stands at 2.37 per cent.
Inter-district travel will continue to be banned. Educational institutions in all districts will also continue to remain closed.
Marriages shall be solemnised in the presence of only 10 persons. These restrictions will remain in place with effect from 5 am of July 7, until further orders.
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 NHM mission director and ensure necessary containment measures.
However, emergency services will continue round the clock and essential services including shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables dairy and milk booths, animal fodder will remain open upto 5 pm.
Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment through e-commerce in such areas will continue round the clock.
There will be a total ban on movement of all public and private transport in the total containment districts. However, the movement of goods shall continue.
All educational institutions including schools/ colleges/ universities shall continue to provide quality virtual options No physical classes are allowed
Teachers / faculty members need not attend their respective institution but if district administration engages in Covid-19 / flood relief related emergency duties, they will have to attend assigned duties.