Lockdown 3.0: Nagaland govt. issues advisories for next 2 weeks

Dimapur, May 4 (EMN): With the government of India extending the lockdown period for two more weeks as a measure to contain the spread of Covid-19, the government of Nagaland has informed that several activities, except those permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will remain prohibited across the state with effect from May 4.

Here are activities restricted in Nagaland till May 17:

- All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for medical services, air ambulance and for security purposes.

- All passenger movement by trains, except for security purposes.

- Inter-state buses for public transport.

- Inter-state movement of individuals except for medical reasons.

- All schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc. However, online/ distance learning shall be permitted.

- Hospitality services other than those used for housing health/ police/ government officials/ healthcare workers, stranded persons including tourists, and those used for quarantine facilities.

- All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.

- All social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ other gatherings.

- All religious places/ places of worship shall be closed for public. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.

- Movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 5 pm to 6 am. Deputy Commissioners and in respect of Dimapur district, the commissioner of police shall issue orders under appropriate provisions of law, such as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC, for this purpose, and ensure strict compliance.

- All persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes, as per the national directives.

As a precautionary measure, sealing of inter-state borders will continue in toto as existing before May 3 in the following border administrative sub-divisions and its subordinate administrative circles: Dimapur Sadar; Niuland Sub-Division; Dhansiripar Sub-Division; Siethiekema Circle; Jalukie Sub-Division; Bhandari Sub-Division; Mangkolemba Sub-Division; Tuli Sub-Division; Tamlu Sub-Division; Naginimora Sub-Division; Tizit Sub-Division; Pfutsero Sub-Division; Meluri Sub-Division; and Jakhama Sub-Division.

In these sub-divisions, only movement of goods vehicles entering or transiting through the state shall be allowed after proper medical screening of the drivers and attendants of those vehicles through designated entry and exit points. This exception will, however, not be applicable to bhandari sub-division. The designated points of entry into and exit from the state for goods vehicles are Naginimora and Tizit in Mon, Tsutapela and Watiyongpang in Mokokchung, Dilai Gate and New Field Gate in Dimapur, and Khuzama Gate in Kohima.

The international border of the state with Myanmar shall continue to remain sealed.

“Inter-district movement of stranded persons in distress will be allowed in a regulated manner for a specific period for which separate guidelines will be issued,” the notification read, adding that  “there will not be quarantining of persons entering a district or town or village from within anywhere in Nagaland” as the state falls under green zone.

Activities permitted under lockdown measures

- Taxis and auto rickshaws shall be permitted to ply with the condition that they carry not more than two and one passenger(s) respectively. Both the driver and passengers should wear masks and the driver should make mandatory provision for hand sanitiser failing which the permit shall be cancelled. Fares to remain the same.

- Movement of passenger buses, like city buses will continue to remain off road.

- Public should strictly maintain social distancing and mandatorily wear face mask (including home-made), and separate guidelines will be issued for those returning to Nagaland from other states.

- Standalone shops and outlets will be allowed to open while Salons, dine-in restaurants and eateries shall continue to remain closed. However, home delivery from hotels is allowed. Dhabas at strategic locations along the highway to be identified by deputy commissioners will be permitted to function to cater to the needs of persons involved in transportation of goods.

- Proprietors of shops and establishments that are allowed to open will make arrangements for keeping hand sanitisers or provide facilities for hand washing with soap and water for the public as well as for their own staff; door handles, surfaces and other objects that are frequently touched by people should cleaned and disinfected. Social distancing measures will also be adhered to at all the shops and outlets.

- Hawker stalls located in crowded areas and market complexes like the Hongkong Market, New Market in Dimapur Town, BOC Market in Kohima etc. shall remain closed except those shops/outlets dealing with food grains, vegetables, food items, medicines and other essential items and goods.

- Use of common public toilets shall be prohibited.

- Restrictions on gatherings at public places of more than 5 people.

- All the public places in the state like parks, museums, libraries, re-creation centres etc. and all religious places, movie halls shall continue to remain closed

- Wedding receptions and all social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions/ gathering will continue to remain barred.

Offices and educational institutions

- All Schools and educational institutions, including home tutorials and vocational institutions, shall continue to remain closed till further orders.

- The Civil Secretariat and Directorates in Kohima and Dimapur and all the government offices in the Districts shall function with attendance of officers of Deputy Secretary and above in the Secretariat and Deputy Director and above in the Directorate and the Head of Office and immediate junior in the District offices being mandatory. For other categories of officers and staff, a roster system shall be worked out whereby 50% staff attends office every alternate week.

- District administration, police, medical. media and essential service providers like Treasury, Fire & Emergency Services, etc. shall continue as per previous arrangements.

Identification of containment zones

- Containment zones shall be demarcated within Red (Hotspots) and Orange Zones by the district administration based on the guidelines of MoHFW.

- The boundary of the Containment Zone will be a residential colony, municipal ward, municipal zone, police station area, towns etc., in case of urban areas; and, a village, cluster of villages, group of police stations, blocks etc., in case of rural areas.

- Intensive surveillance mechanism as outlined in the standard operating protocol (SOP) is to be established within the containment zone. The district administration shall ensure 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu app among the residents of containment zones.

- In the containment zone, the local authorities will undertake contact tracing, home or institutional quarantining of individuals, testing of all cases with Covid-19 symptoms, house-to-house surveillance by special teams, clinical management of all cases, counselling and educating people.

- In containment zones, within Red (Hotspots) and Orange Zones, there shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of population in or out of these zones except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.

- No unchecked influx of people and transport.

- Recording of details of people moving in and out of perimeter.

Penal provisions

• Violators of lockdown measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec. 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable.

National directives for Covid-19 Management

Public spaces

- Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public places.

- All persons in-charge of public places, work places and transport shall ensure social distancing.

- No organisation /manager of public place shall allow gathering of five or more persons.

- Marriages related gatherings shall ensure social distancing, and the maximum number of guests allowed shall not be more than 50.

- Funeral rites-related gatherings shall ensure social distancing, and the maximum numbers allowed shall not be more than 20.

- Spitting in public places shall be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed by the state/ UT local authority.

- Consumption of paan, gutka, tobacco etc. in public places is not allowed.

- Shops selling paan, gutka, tobacco etc. will ensure minimum six feet distance from each other, and also ensure that not more than five persons are present at one time at the shop.

Work places

- Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all work places and adequate stock of such face covers shall be made available.

- All persons in charge of work places shall ensure social distancing, both within the work places and in company transport.

- Social distancing at work places shall be ensured through adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc.

- Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitiser preferably with touch free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas. In addition, sufficient quantities of handwash and sanitiser shall be made available in the workplaces.

- Frequent sanitisation of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact shall be ensured, including between shifts.

- Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.

- Use of Arogya Setu app shall be made mandatory for all employees, both private and public. It shall be the responsibility of the Head of the respective organisations to ensure 100% coverage of this app among the employees.

- Large physical meetings to be avoided.

- Hospitals/ clinics in the nearby areas, which are authorised to treat Covid-19 patients, should be identified and list should be available at work place all the times.' Employees showing any symptom of covid-19 should be immediately sent for check up to such facilities. - Quarantine areas should be earmarked for isolating employees showing symptoms till they are safely moved to the medical facilities.

- Arrangements for transport facilities shall be ensured with social distancing, wherever personal/ public transport is not feasible.

- Intensive communication and training on good hygiene practices shall be taken.

Offences and penalties for violation of lockdown measures

Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005: Obstruction of government officials from discharging their functions or refusal to comply with government directives; false claim; misappropriation of money or materials; false warning; offences by departments of the government; failure of officer in duty; contravention of any order regarding requisitioning; offence by companies; previous sanction for prosecution; and cognizance of offences are punishable including imprisonment and fine.