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Nagaland to relax lockdown restrictions from June 12; more business establishments to open
“No Mask – No Movement, No Mask – No Entry”
Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 9 (EMN): Just a couple days before the ongoing total lockdown was supposed to come to an end, on June 11, the government of Nagaland on Wednesday announced the extension of the Covid-induced restrictive measures by seven more days, till June 18.
It is the third time that the government has extended the lockdown, which was imposed across the state starting from May 14 to combat the surge of Covid-19 cases in the state as the second wave wreaked havoc across the country. The state announced lockdown from May 14 to 21, before extending to May 31 and then to May 11.
“The situation in the state has been reviewed and it is observed that there is a declining trend in the number of daily Covid-19 positive cases. Further, the spread of Covid-19 cases in rural and peri-urban areas are being continuously monitored. However, the number of active Covid-19 positive cases in the state is still a matter of concern,” read the order by the Home department.
It stated that the state government decided to continue lockdown measures for some more time after taking the views of the Health and Family Welfare department and the various district task forces (DTFs) into consideration.
State’s Spokesperson for Covid-19, Mmhonlumo Kikon also tweeted that ‘the High Powered Committee, after a thorough discussion with all the DTFs, had decided to extend the lockdown with further relaxations’.
He added that the respective DTFs would issue necessary orders for relaxations as per the situation in the districts.
Meanwhile, Minister Neiba Kronu, who is also the government’s spokesperson, updated that the views of the DTF were taken through video conferencing and a consensus was arrived at to continue lockdown with more relaxation.
Kronu informed that shopping timing would also be enhanced for essential commodities and had been recommended to the state War Room and online classes would continue for students. He added that trains would not be allowed to stop at Dimapur, while migrant labours from outside without negative report would not be allowed entry into the state.
The Home department’s order issued by Chief Secretary J Alam stated that “the existing lockdown measures will remain in force in the state” from June 12 to the 18th with following additional relaxations:
- The practice of ‘No Mask – No Movement and ‘No Mask – No Entry” will be strictly enforced by the respective district task forces and law enforcing agencies.
- Permitted shops and business establishments will be allowed to open between 6 am and 2 pm. However, DTFs can decide the timing as per the local conditions.
- Shops selling stationeries, mobile phones and computer accessories, garages for automobile repairing and shops selling vehicle spare parts will be allowed to open on alternate days as determined by the respective DTFs.
- Regular religious services and gatherings will continue to be suspended but prayer meetings and fellowships will be allowed in religious places with not more than 20 persons with strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
- Administrative offices of schools and colleges with a core group of officers and staff will be permitted to attend to urgent and essential matters.
- Private business offices with a core group of officers and staff may be permitted to attend to urgent and essential matter with the permission of the respective district task forces.
- New construction works may be permitted after examination by the respective DTFs and fresh labourers will be allowed as per provisions under the revised SOP for returnees and travellers issued on April 29.
- Common Service Centres across the state will be permitted to open as per the requirements of the respective district task forces for IT support during Covid-19 vaccination.
- Light motor vehicles including taxi, auto rickshaws, etc. will be allowed to ply on odd-even basis. However, drivers shout obtain negative Covid test report for resumption of services. The DTFs may however, consider imposing restrictions depending on the prevailing situations to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
- Bus service, two-wheeler taxi service and pillion riding will remain suspended.