Dimapur, September 15 (MExN): Existing COVID-19 lockdown measures and guidelines in Nagaland have been extended from September 17 to 30 with a few relaxations, the state DIPR informed on Wednesday. A decision to this effect was taken during a review meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 on September 13, it added.
As per the DIPR, the relaxations include reopening of all Government offices with 100 percent attendance—subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, and fulfilment of the existing requirements for vaccination or testing for attendance in office.
The HPC also decided to allow conduct of regular classes for students of Class V up to Class X in all schools in the rural areas of the State with 50 percent attendance, and adherence to all the provisions of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) which will be issued by the Home Department.
With regard to the urban areas of the State, all the schools for the students of Class V up to Class X will be allowed to open for regular classes, with 50 percent attendance, with effect from October 1, the DIPR reported. However, the schools would have to adhere to the SOPs which will be issued by the Home Department.
The HPC also relaxed the hours of ‘night curfew’ by one hour, and the same will be in force from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am, the DIPR report stated.
While the respective district task forces (DTFs) have been given the authority to decide on the timings for opening of shops and other business establishments within their respective jurisdictions outside the night curfew timings, the HPC also allowed swimming pools and cinemas to open with 50 percent capacity, “subject to adherence to SOP to be issued by the Home department.”
“Offline classes for the Polytechnics for the session July-December 2021 are allowed to open subject to compliance of SOP issued for re-opening of colleges and technical institutions for conduct of regular classes for students as applicable,” it added.
Meeting on Hornbill Festival on Sept 23
The DIPR also reported that discussions regarding the Hornbill Festival were also held during the HPC meeting and said that the State Government intends to celebrate/organise the Hornbill Festival if the COVID-19 situation continues to remain under control with positivity rate below 5 percent. The activities will be undertaken with full adherence to COVID-19 protocols and travel to Nagaland for tourism is already allowed for those who have been fully vaccinated, it said, while adding that pre-bookings in hotels and other facilities may be done by intending tourists.
In order to kick start the preparatory activities, an inter-departmental meeting will be held with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Art & Culture on the September 23, the DIPR informed.
