The Assam State Disaster Management Authority on January 07, 2022 has issued new Standard of Procedure (SOP) for containment of Covid-19 for public safety and possible outbreak of COVID with variant forms of the virus which will come into force with effect from 6 AM of January 8,2022 and will remain in force until further orders.
The key highlights of the SOP are as followed:
• Containment Zones:
In case the test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches more than 10 cases in the last seven days, the jurisdictional District Magistrate will notify such areas as total containment zone in consultation with MD, NHM and ensure necessary containment measures for COVID-19.
However, in such zones, emergency services will continue round the clock and essential services including shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder, etc. will remain open up to usual time of closure.
Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through e-commerce in such areas will continue round the clock.
• Other restrictions and relaxations:
All Government servants (including contractual and fixed pay) should be fully vaccinated and shall attend office. Employees who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed to attend office and they will have to avail leave, if available or extra ordinary leave for which they will not be paid salary.
However, all other employees except those in whose case vaccination is contra- indicated as per guidelines issued by the Health Department of Government of Assam and /or such claim is certified by a registered medical practitioner, will have to get themselves vaccinated and attend office.
2. Employees engaged in emergency / essential services shall attend their duty without any restrictions at any place.
3. The organizations (Government / Private) rendering Essential/Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Services and Election work will continue working without any restrictions in all districts
• Educational Institutions (Government and Private):
1. All Educational Institutions including Schools/Colleges/Universities shall continue to
provide quality virtual options.
2. All schools upto Class VIII in Kamrup-Metropolitan district and upto Class V
in all other districts shall remain closed. No physical classes are allowed.
3. Physical classes shall be allowed on alternate days for class IX and above in Kamrup-Metro district and for class VI and above in all other districts.
4. The physical classes in respect of Degree/Post-Graduate final year students of Engineering/Medical Colleges may be allowed with fully vaccinated students.
• Omicron specific regulation
1. All District Magistrates, Superintendent of Police, and all other authorities concerned shall be responsible for ensuring COVID Appropriate Behaviour viz. wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, regular hand washing and use of sanitizer, maintaining health hygiene, no spitting etc. in all shops, malls, markets, market complexes, weekly markets, restaurants, ISBTs, railway platforms / stations, cinemas /theatres / multiplexes, auditoriums / assembly halls, banquet halls / marriage halls, schools, colleges, educational / coaching institutes, religious places etc. for containment of COVID-19 virus.
2. All District Magistrates, Superintendent of Police should ensure that the people who visit the above mentioned places strictly follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour and are wearing masks, maintaining social distancing etc. without fail. If the aforesaid norms of COVID Appropriate Behaviour are not maintained at any establishment/ business premises/weekly market/ schools, colleges, educational / coaching institutes, libraries, religious places etc, then such premises/ weekly market shall be liable to be closed for containing the spread of COVID-19 virus and the defaulter shall also be liable for criminal prosecution under the relevant laws.
3. All District Magistrates and Superintendent of Police shall deploy sufficient number of teams for keeping utmost vigil at public places and for enforcing COVID Appropriate Behaviour so as to avoid any possibility of surge in COVID-19 cases.
• Penal Provisions:-
1. Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec. 188 of IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.
2. Any person not wearing face mask and/ or spitting in public places shall be fined to the tune of Rs.1000 vide ASDMA's earlier Order No. ASDMA/24/2020/Part 1/122 dt. 14/10/2020 which can be imposed by District wise Task Force comprising of District Disaster Management Authority, Magistrates, Police, Enforcement wing of District Transport Officer and Enforcement wing of Guwahati Municipal Corporation in their respective jurisdictions.
[Order No. ASDMA.28/2021/347]
