Kohima, August 6 (MExN): Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) applicable for all kind of vehicles in Nagaland which will come into effect from August 9 has been notified by the State Home Department on August 6.
As part of the new SOPs, vehicles (both commercial and private) have been issued guidelines to follow which requires drivers and/attendants and passengers to be either fully vaccinated or have negative COVID-19 test report in order to ply within the State.
Commercial passenger vehicles
In buses, and in light vehicles, the maximum occupancy permitted has been set at 50%. In case of taxis, and auto rickshaws, the maximum allowed passengers shall be 2(two), without any passenger in the front seat. If there are more than 1 row, then in each row not more than 2(two) passengers will be permitted, the order stated.
Drivers and attendants of every passenger vehicle including taxis, auto-rickshaws and buses plying within the district should be asymptomatic and should have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (taken both the doses), or should have taken the first dose against COVID-19, and 15 days must have passed since taking the first dose, the order stated.
If none of the two aforesaid criteria regarding vaccination is fulfilled, then the driver/attendant should carry a COVID-19 negative test report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT with the swab taken for testing not earlier than 15 days, it added.
In case of inter-district bus service/ taxi service, in addition to the drivers/attendants fulfilling the conditions as mentioned, the passengers should also have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (taken both the doses), or should have taken the first dose against COVID-19, and 15 days must have passed since taking the first dose.
If none of the two aforesaid criteria regarding vaccination is fulfilled, then the passenger should carry a COVID-19 negative lest report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT with the swab taken for testing not earlier than 72 hours from the date of travel, the order stated.
All the travelling passengers should be asymptomatic. Further all the passenger vehicles should also mandatorily maintain a daily log book of all travellers at the ticket/booking counter, with details including name, age and sex, contact number, date of travel and destination.
As per the order, hand sanitizer/extra face masks should be carried at all times and all passengers must sanitize their hands before boarding. The vehicles should be washed daily and disinfected periodically.
Further, light commercial passenger vehicles including taxis and auto rickshaws are also advised to put a plastic barrier in the vehicle to isolate the driver from the passengers as an added safety measure.
The driver/attendant should mandatorily carry appropriate disinfectants and periodically disinfect frequently touched surfaces of the vehicle such as doors and window handles, seats, overhead hand grips, etc.
Drivers/attendants have been advised against assembling or gathering in groups at bus/taxi/auto rickshaw stands. The Municipal/Town Councils have been entrusted to ensure installation of adequate hand washing facilities- soap and running water or foot-operated alcohol-based hand sanitizer at the bus/taxi/auto rickshaw stand and display adequate IEC materials (posters/ pamphlets/ flex banners).
The Municipal/Town Councils in collaboration with concerned Union/Association of passenger vehicles will conduct orientation programme on standard preventive measure for drivers and travellers. Necessary technical support will be provided by District Task Force, as per the order.
Private passenger vehicles
In case of private passenger vehicles, there should not be more than two persons sitting on the middle and rear row seats. In case of rear seats being along the length of the vehicle, not more than one person should sit on each of the rear seat. In the front row seat, including the driver there should not be more than two persons sitting. Occupants of the vehicles should be asymptomatic and they should adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
