Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 31
A day after the Union Home Ministry issued a new set of guidelines for ‘Unlock 4.0’, allowing significant relaxations; the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 Nagaland today announced a number of decisions giving more emphasis on the overall improvement of the economic activities in the State.
The decision in this respect was taken during the committee’s meeting at the Chief Minister’s Chamber here, the Government Spokesperson on COVID-19 Neiba Kronu said on Monday.
“We cannot continue imposing the lockdown as it has affected the overall economy of the state,” Kronu who is also the state Minister for Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs said, adding that emphasis should be given towards agricultural activities for overall improvement of the economy.
Informing that the HPC had decided to lift restrictions on inter and intra-state movement of all types with effect from September 1, he said that unlike the previous versions of the ‘Unlock,’ where the respective District Task Forces on COVID-19 had been empowered to take their own decisions on lockdown measures, this time they would not be allowed to restrict the movement of vehicles.
Shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, gymnasium, and saloons will also be allowed to open but by following all safety protocols, Kronu said.
Sports complex and stadia will also be allowed open but without spectators, he said.
The market places including all those restricted before would be permitted to open but with certain conditions.
He also said that new standard operating protocols (SOPs) for returnees will be brought out in a day or two.
Schools and colleges will remain closed till September 30, while the order allowing churches and religious places to open with 30 per cent congregation will remain till September 21. Further increase on the number will be made after that, Kronu said.
Later in the evening, the Nagaland Chief Secretary's office issued a ‘Consolidated Guidelines’ for the Unlock: 4:0.
SOPs for movement of persons & vehicles
With the lifting of restrictions on the intra and inter district movement across the State, the following SOPs will apply for ensuring social distancing:
I. In case of private Car/SUV/MUV 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.
II. In case of Car/SUV/MUV being used as commercial passenger vehicles, similar seating arrangements as mentioned above will be followed.
III. In case of auto rickshaw, the number of passengers should not be more than one in case of three seater, and not more than two passengers in a six seater.
IV. In case of buses, including city buses, the passengers should sit on alternate seats and there should always be a vacant seat between two adjacent passengers sitting. Further no standing passengers will be allowed to travel.
V. In all the passenger vehicles the driver, attendant and the passengers should wear masks. Further, the driver/attendant should make mandatory provision of hand sanitizers for use by the passengers. Only passengers wearing masks must be allowed to travel.
VI. The commercial vehicles moving for long distances should be mandatorily cleaned and disinfected before the start of every fresh journey with new passengers. Those moving for short distances will also be disinfected regularly by the drivers/attendants. The above provisions for all commercial passenger vehicles shall be monitored and enforced by a joint team comprising of District Administration, Police and RTO/DTO.
VII. The fares to be charged by all categories of passenger vehicles will be at the rate as prescribed by the RTAs/DTAs which may consider revising/re-fixing within reasonable limits, keeping in view the restrictions on the number of passengers.
Activities to be permitted after Sept 21
The following activities will be permitted after September 21, for which SOPs will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff may be permitted to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/ tele-counselling and related work, in areas outside the Containment Zones only.
• Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the Containment Zones only, on voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers, with written consent of parents/ guardians.
• Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, ITIs, short term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions or other Ministries of GoI or State Governments.
• National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship and their training providers.
• Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph D) and post-graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, in consultation with MHA, based on the assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of COVID-19 in the States/ UTs
• Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations will be permitted w.e.f Sept 21, with a ceiling of 100 persons, and with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer
• Marriage related gatherings with number of guests not exceeding 50 and funeral/last rites related gatherings with number of persons not exceeding 20 will continue to be allowed up to Sept 21, after which the ceiling of 100 persons will apply
