Assam govt announces night curfew in all districts from 9 PM-5 AM, issues new COVID-19 guidelines

NEW DELHI: The Assam government on Wednesday issued new COVID-19 guidelines to contain the spread of new cases of coronavirus infections across the state. The state government has also announced that a night curfew will be imposed across all districts of Assam from 9 PM to 5 AM.

In case test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches more than 10 cases in last 7 days, jurisdictional DM will notify such areas as total containment zones & ensure necessary containment measures for COVID, the Assam Govt said in its new directives that will be effective from today until further orders.

In case test positivity of COVID in any area reaches more than 10 cases in last 7 days, jurisdictional DM will notify such areas as total containment zones & ensure necessary containment measures for COVID: Assam Govt issues directives effective from today until further orders pic.twitter.com/iYbiAsbIba — ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2021

The new guidelines were announced by Assam’s Health Minister Keshab Mahanta. Assam reported five fresh fatalities due to COVID-19 on Tuesday, while 570 more people tested positive pushing the caseload to 5,89,426, the National Health Mission said.

With the death of persons in Kamrup Metro and one each in Jorhat, Nagaon, and Tinsukia, the COVID-19 death toll rose to 5,660.

The NHM said 1,347 more COVID-19 patients have died till now, but the government's death audit board has not included them in the death toll caused by the virus, as they had other ailments too. The current death rate is 0.96 per cent, it said.

Out of the new cases, the highest 131 patients were detected from Kamrup Metro, followed by 37 each in Jorhat and Golaghat, and 30 in Sivasagar.
At present, Assam has 5,554 active cases, while a total of 2,16,74,871 samples have been tested for COVID-19 thus far.

With the detection of 570 coronavirus patients against the testing of 88,519 tests on Tuesday, Assam has reported a positivity rate of 0.64 per cent for the day.

Meanwhile, 624 patients recuperated from the disease during the day taking the total recoveries to 5,76,865. The current recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the state is 97.87 per cent. The state has inoculated over 1.75 crore people to date, of whom 31,25,844 have received both doses, it said.

Key points of the new SoP issued by the Assam govt

-Night curfew will remain effective from 9 PM to 5 AM across the State. 

-All state govt offices, workplaces, private offices/establishments will function normally but not beyond 8 PM. 

-All business/commercial establishments, Dine-in Restaurants, hotels. resorts. Dhabas and other eateries, the takeaway of food items from restaurants/Dhabas and other eateries. opening of Sale counters, showrooms, etc. of cold storage and warehouses. shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder will remain open till 8 pm.

- Pillion riding is allowed with at least a single vaccinated person and compulsory wearing of a mask. 

- Intra-district transport with 100% seating capacity allowed for passengers having at least a single dose of vaccine. 

- Inter-district passenger transport with 100% seating capacity shall be allowed for passengers having at least a single dose of vaccine. 

- The physical classes for the postgraduate, graduate, higher secondary final GSM/Nursing courses and that of technical institutions allowed for students having at host single-dose vaccine. Before the start of physical classes, there will be a 3-day vaccination drive for students. faculty and staff

- Meeting/gathering at any open or closed spaces is allowed up to 50 single-dose vaccinated persons with prior intimation to local police. However. w all prior permission of jurisdictional DC for maximum gathering up to 200 persons (at least single vaccinated) may he allowed both for public and private functions which will also be applicable for closed spaces subject to a ceiling of 50% of the hall capacity. 

- Public gathering allowed up to 50 single vaccinated people for marriages /funeral/last rites etc. 

- Religious places are allowed to open with up to 40 single vaccinated people per hour.

- Cinema/Theatre Hall to remain closed till further notice.