Unlock-8: Nagaland government issues fresh guidelines ahead of festive season

Dimapur, Dec. 14 (EMN): Nagaland government on Tuesday extended the existing lockdown measures placed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and further issued Unlock-8 guidelines with effect from December 15 to January 15.

In order to ensure a safe festive season, and in view of the detection of a new Covid-19 variant (Omicron), the Home department in a notification directed citizens to strictly adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviours like compulsory wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, regular hand wash with soap and water or sanitiser, avoiding crowded spaces and close contact settings, etc.

Further, it said that vaccination is the most crucial and important tool in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

Those who have not yet been vaccinated have been advised to get Covid-19 vaccination at the earliest, an update from DIPR informed.

It informed that eligible persons may avail the door-to-door vaccination drive from the Health and Family Welfare department or get themselves vaccinated from the nearest health facility.

Those who have taken the first dose and are due for the second dose should also get the second dose and complete the vaccination schedule, it stated.

The Home department has also issued the following measures to be followed as part of the Unlock-8 guidelines:

•    Any kind of public gathering, which has been allowed beyond 50% and up to 100 % capacity, is subject to all the participants being fully vaccinated or should have taken a single dose and at least 15 days should have passed since taking the first dose.

•    During road travel, any passenger vehicle which is carrying more than 50% and up to 100% capacity, the driver/attendant/passenger are subject to similar vaccination conditions as mentioned above and if none of the vaccination criteria are fulfilled, the driver/attendant/passenger 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 72 hours from the date of travel.

•    The district task forces (DTF) have been advised to form teams for inspection of any public gathering in their jurisdictions and checking if the participants are complying with the above mentioned vaccination/testing conditions, and adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviours. If any violation is found, then immediate action against the organisers and participants can be taken under the relevant laws.

•    The teams formed by the DTFs also should regularly inspect the passenger vehicles, in particular, those entering the district at the check posts, to check if the passengers travelling are complying with the aforesaid vaccination/testing conditions, and adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. If any violation is noted, immediate action against the passenger is to be taken under the relevant laws. At the district check gates, the passenger violating may also be denied entry into the district and asked to return.

•   The teams formed have been also advised to also check if people are wearing facemasks in public places and action is to be taken against those found not wearing mask and a penalty of INR 200 is to be imposed every time the offense is committed as laid down in the order issued by NSDMA dated September 8, 2021.