State govt announces phase 3 of ‘unlock’ from Jul 18 to Aug 1

July 17, 2021 28 Views No Comment

Colleges to reopen from July 26
Inter-district movement allowed
No restriction for vaccinated tourists

Correspondent KOHIMA, JUL 17 (NPN) : Based on the recommendations of district task forces (DTFs), High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 on Friday decided to go for ‘Unlock-3’ for next 15 days, until August 1. The committee however appealed for strict adherence to Covid SOPs and to come forward for vaccination and testing.

Planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu, who is also the spokesperson of HPC, informed this to media persons at Civil Secretariat Conference Hall here.

Colleges to reopen from July 26: He said HPC decided to allow colleges to reopen from July 26 on the condition that staffs, both teaching and non-teaching, should be fully vaccinated or must have taken at-least first dose of vaccine and follow Covid SOPs. Another HPC spokesperson and adviser, Mmhonlumo Kikon, who too was present, said HPC has decided to wait till August 1 to prepare phase-wise reopening of schools, especially the higher classes. But, he stressed that certain pre-conditions would have to be met, else the classes would continue to remain suspended, adding that HPC would take the call only after assessing the preparedness.

He said the committee also decided to encourage college establishments to start vaccination for students with the help of State government.

Admitting that there were several requests from school and college authorities to reopen their institutions, he stressed that the pre-conditions would have to be met first– the staffs should be fully vaccinated or at least receive first dose and follow Covid-appropriate behaviours. He said time for preparation had been given and a decision would be taken later.

25% vaccination in Civil Sectt: Considering the poor vaccination coverage in Nagaland Civil secretariat here and directorate offices, HPC decided that attendance of employees and staffs would be based on their vaccination status. Mentioning that only 25% of them had got themselves vaccinated, Kronu warned the Secretariat staff that government was very firm to initiate stringent measures, if they did not wish to be vaccinated. He urged the government servants to come forward and take the vaccine, claiming that that there was no shortage of vaccines.

To prevent spread of virus and ensure safety of co-workers, Kikon said HPC decided that employees who have been fully vaccinated or have taken their first dose would not be required to produce RT-PCR negative test, while those not vaccinated would have to produce RT-PCR negative report every 15 days. He added that HoDs concerned would take care of this.

Inter-district movement allowed: Kikon said inter-district movement for non-essential purpose in private/light vehicles would be allowed, but subject to the driver and co-passengers being asymptomatic or having Covid vaccination certificate or 15 days after the first dose has been taken. He mentioned that drivers and passengers would have to produce vaccination certificate or RT-PCR negative test report. On violations Covid safety protocols in districts, the spokespersons announced that there would be stricter enforcement of SOPs in every area.

Reiterating the earlier notification that made display of vaccination certificates by shops, barbers and taxi drivers mandatory and asking DTF to enforce its directives, Kikon observed that there was a dip in Covid cases over the past four weeks, though the past one week saw slight spike in Covid positive cases, and urged everyone to remain more cautious.

Returnees, inbound travellers, tourists: All returnees and inbound travellers or tourists, who are asymptomatic or fully vaccinated, would not be required to undergo test at the point of entry or quarantine. But those who have taken the first dose and had crossed 15 days would be required to be quarantined for seven days.

Mentioning this, Kikon said for all other cases, the travellers would be required to undergo test for Covid-19 against payment at the point of entry and undergo seven-day quarantine, for which a new SOP would be issued soon.

Principal secretary (home) Abhijit Sinha, who too was present at the press briefing, pointed out to the people that it was impossible for police or district administration to cover every nook and corner. Hence, he appealed to the citizens to own responsibility and cooperate with the administration to contain spread of the virus.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/state-govt-announces-phase-3-of-unlock-from-jul-18-to-aug-1/236507.html