Manipur relaxes daytime curfew; imposes night curfew till Aug. 22

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 8 (EMN): Manipur government has lifted the daytime curfew and imposed night curfew in the state for 15 days from 6 pm to 5 am till August 22, according to an official order.

Manipur chief secretary, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Chairman of the state executive committee of State Disaster Management Authority issued an order in this regard on August 7.

The order said that there is a need to allow more economic activities in seven districts by taking up necessary measures for public health safety.

Informing that unavoidable customary and religious rituals can be performed in open sheds by restricting the number of invitees to 20, the order said that micro containment zones shall be strictly monitored by dedicated Police and Health department teams.

The opening of vegetable vendors is allowed from 7 am to 10 am on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays while wholesale grocery and foods shops in Imphal are allowed to open on a rotational basis from 7 am to 12 noon. Hotels for lodging are allowed to remain open with minimum staff but restaurants will be closed.

Stating that the fresh cases of Covid-19 infections should be isolated as soon as possible and brought to Covid Care Centres and Health department should arrange mobile medical team for regular health check, it asked the Health department to scale up vaccination, contact tracing and testing by providing additional manpower, mobility support and information education and communication advocacy.

Earlier reviewing the curfew, which was enforced since July 18, the state cabinet has resolved to discontinue curfew in the state and to adopt micro containment zone approach in line with central government advisories to maintain balance with livelihood and economic activities, according to a press release issued by the Health department.

The state Chief Minister, N Biren Singh chaired the cabinet meeting on Saturday.

The release said that the Gram Panchayats, village authorities, local clubs etc. would be fully engaged by DCs in ensuring strict micro containment zones and isolation of fresh positive cases in the state.