Nagaland govt announces new COVID-19 guidelines

• ‘Lockdown-like’ restrictions from April 30
• Free vaccination for 18 years and above

Morung Express News
Kohima | April 28

With the surge in COVID-19 positive cases, the Nagaland government in its Cabinet meeting held on April 27 has decided to impose ‘lockdown with new guidelines’ from April 30.

“The Cabinet held a meeting to deliberate on the future course of action in view of the surge of COVID-19 cases in Nagaland,” said government spokesperson Mmhonlumo Kikon during a press conference held this evening at the Chief Secretary Conference hall at the Secretariat.

He informed of two important decisions taken, the first being, “For all citizens 18 years and above, the PDA government has decided to provide free vaccination,”

“The second important decision was to impose lockdown with new guidelines from April 30,” Kikon stated while adding that “fresh consolidated guidelines will be issued on April 29 evening.”

“This lockdown is not going to be forever. It is going to be for the first implementation to try and break the transmission. It will be effective from April 30 to May 14,” Kikon said.

When enquired if this ‘lockdown’ could be termed as ‘partial or complete lockdown” Kikon responded “I won’t say ‘partial or complete’ but is a lockdown with consolidated guidelines’ adding “in the previous lockdown, a complete lockdown has been experienced by people. On the basis of our experience, we have worked out strict guidelines, and this lockdown will have all the elements of complete lockdown.”

The government has also decided to impose a fine of Rs 200 for any person found without wearing mask in public places, Kikon also informed.

On State preparedness
“The State is fully prepared to address any eventuality. Our officers and frontline workers, doctors and nurses have had all the experience of one year, and given that experience and learning and also ramped up infrastructure, we are fully prepared to tackle this challenge,” Kikon said with regard to the preparedness to address the second wave of COVID-19.

However, he also pointed out that many citizens have been careless with the very important protocols of wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, washing hands etc. “The government while trying to provide all assistance and support cannot work alone unless our citizens cooperate by just following three simple SOPs which are universally declared as standard protocols to address personally, protection of oneself from COVID-19,” he maintained.

Kikon also informed that as of today, the State has three BSL labs, 32 TruNat machines, 260 beds with oxygen support and 66 ICU beds including the latest order from Government of India to set up three oxygen plants in the State.

Restriction on public gatherings
Briefly highlighting the consolidated guidelines as per the discussion in today’s meeting effective from April 30, 2021, he informed that all schools, colleges, educational/coaching/vocational/student hostels etc shall be closed down across the State. “However, online distance learning shall be permitted and encouraged,” said Kikon.

Social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations will be permitted outside the containment zones, but the gathering shall not be more than 30% of the capacity of the hall/venue/ground or 100 persons, whichever is lower, subject to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours.

Religious places/places of worship will be permitted to open outside the containment zones subject to a maximum of 30% of the capacity of the hall/building at any point of time or 100 persons, whichever is lower.

Entry and exit points/routes on inter-state borders
Kikon also informed that in the entry and exit points/routes on inter-state border, any inbound travellers/returnees will be permitted to enter the State through Dimapur by train, air or by road through the New Field Check gate and the Dillai gate, and by road through Khuzama, Kohima district, Tsutapela and Watiyongpang, Mokokchung district, Naginimora and Tizit, Mon district and Bhandari, Wokha district, Akash bridge, Jessami and Lanye in Phek district.

“Entry into the State through any other route, or by any other of travel will not be allowed, except under special circumstances with the approval of the Home department,” said Kikon. The international border of the State with Myanmar will continue to remain sealed as before, as per the guidelines.

It was also informed that every inbound traveller/returnee will be guided by the provisions of the SOP dated November 25, 2020 for entry of persons into the state and on arrival will be required to produce a negative RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT test report for COVID-19 with the test done not earlier than 72 hour prior to entry into the State.

“Such persons will be further required to remain in self isolation/quarantine for 7 days. In other cases, the person concerned after entry will be required to self isolate/quarantine for 10 days.”

In case of residents of NE states other than Nagaland, who are arriving in Nagaland and is either directly travelling onwards to any other NE states or transit passengers of inter-state routes shall fill in self declaration form available in https://covid19/nagaland.gov.in as a transit passenger and shall proceed to their destination State directly from the point of entry without halting in Nagaland and further they should strictly adhere to the testing guidelines of the destination States.

“The movement of goods vehicles entering or transiting through the state shall be allowed through the mentioned points of entry, after proper medical screening of the drivers and attendance of those vehicles. All other roads/routes will remain closed,” it was informed.

Shops, markets & offices
Meanwhile, as per the consolidated guidelines, hotels/lodges will continue to be permitted to open and operate and restaurants will also continue to be permitted to open outside the containment zones subject to strict adherence to conditions/provisions of the SOP for preventing COVID-19

Barber shops and salons are permitted to open and function subject to the provisions of the SOPs.

Private Banks, ATMs, pharmacies, medical clinics, nursing homes, private telecom services, internet service providers, media houses, LPG, petroleum outlets will continue to open/function as per the existing arrangements. All other kind of offices/establishments may open/function subject to 50% attendance on any day with strict adherence to COVID- 19 appropriate behaviors, the consolidated guidelines stated. All other activities not explicitly barred or prohibited in order or any other issued by the government will continue to be permitted subject to strict adherence to COVID-I9 appropriate behavior.

Shops and hawker stalls of all categories located in marketing complex and crowd areas like Hongkong Market, New Market in Dimapur Town, BOC Market in Kohima etc. are allowed to open and operate with the condition of only a certain percentage of the shops limited to 30% as decided by the respective DTF after making assessment of the location and layout.

For offices, the Civil Secretariat and Directorates in Kohima and Dimapur and all the Government offices in the districts shall continue to function with attendance of officers of Deputy Secretary and above in the Secretariat, and Deputy Director and above in the Director, and the Head of Office and immediate junior in the District offices being mandatory.

All the DTFs led by the Deputy Commissioners are to strictly enforce the lockdown measures and the National directives for COVID-19 management. Any person violating these lockdown measures and the National directives for COVID-19 management will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec 188 of the IPC, it added.
Lockdown or no lockdown?

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 27

Citizens in Nagaland were left confused on Tuesday regarding the ‘lockdown’ announcement in the State.

Government spokesperson Mmhonlumo Kikon informed of a ‘lockdown with new guidelines’ in the State from April 30 during a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting held on April 27.

Local dailies and media houses in the region carried reports and video clips of Kikon announcing the April 30 to May 14 lockdown.

However, Kikon later took to Twitter to ‘clarify’ that it was “not a lockdown,” with a screenshot of the report by The Morung Express.

“State Government has issued new consolidated guidelines enforcing stricter rules due to surge of Covid in Nagaland. It is not a Lockdown! This is a clarification,” his tweet read.

While the incident sparked confusion, some were also amused at the State government’s reluctance to use the term ‘lockdown’. It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent address to the nation, had implored States to impose lockdown only as a ‘last resort’.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-govt-announces-new-covid-19-guidelines