Guwahati, April 20: Markets places, shopping malls in high incidence COVID-affected districts including Guwahati city in Assam will have to close down at 6 pm from today in view of surge in COVID 19 positive cases in the state, even as Assam government has issued fresh guidelines to be followed by the people for their safety.
The new guidelines come into force immediately and will remain in force till April 30 next.
The salient points of the new set of COVID guidelines are :
IN RESPECT OF GATHERING OF PEOPLE
*Open space function to be allowed with permission of the district authority subject strict adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour like wearing face masks, maintaining respiratory etiquette, practising hand hygiene through frequent hand washing or hand sanitizer, maintaining social distancing (6 feet).
* While granting permission for such gathering district authority will allow gathering of only 50% of the capacity of the space available or 400 persons whichever is lower.
* In closed venues gathering upto 50% of the seating caoacity to be allowed.
* No standing audience will be allowed in open/closed venues.
* Number of guests in orivate functions and private venues including martiage to be restricted to 100 persons.
* Not more than 20 persons will be allowed for funeral/last rites.
* 20 persons per hour will be allowed in common religious placrs while 50 persons per hour in iconic religious places.
*All market places/ supermarkets/shops in the malls/weekly market should be closed by 6 pm.
IN RESPECT OF WORK PLACES (GOVT AND PVT)
* Working from home and working in virtual mode should be encouraged
* Except officers, only 50% employees can work from office. However, this will not be applicable for organisations rendering essential/ emergency services, law enforcement services and election work.
*Meeting in official chambers discouraged.
*Pregnant employees and women with children of 5 years or below irrespective of their grades shall be allowed to work from home.
*Social distancing at work places should be ensured through adequate gaps between shifts, staggering of lunch breaks of staff etc.
*Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitizer be made at all entry and exit points and common areas.
*Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact should be carried our.
IN RESPECT OF EDUCATIONAL INSTOTUTIONS (GOVT AND PVT)
* All educational institutions must provide quality virtual options.
* Not more than 50% students should attend in person on any day.
* Schools should stagger class timings so that large scale release of students doesn’t arise.
* There will be no morning assembly/special assembly etc. In the educational institutions.
* Preference will be given to online mode of teaching for primary classes.
* Education department will issue detail guidelines/SOP for uninterrupted education service keeping in mind COVID precautionary measures.
IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT (GOVT & PVT)
* All public transport authorities shall enforce COVID19 appropriate behaviour and seating inside the vehicles, carriers and containers etc.
* Auto Rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers maintaining social distancing.
* City buses, inter-district and inter-state buses will be allowed to operate with 50 % seating capacity.
*No passenger shall be allowed to travel standing in the vehicle.
* Wearing of mask and observance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour will be mandatory for all passengers.
MISCELLANEOUS
* Wearing of face mask is compulsory in all public places.
* Shop owners should ensure social distancing and must keep sanitizers and hand wash in their shops.
* Shop keepers and customers must wear masks and hand gloves.
* Barber shops, saloon and parlours will continue to operate with strict compliance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
*Industrial units and tea gardens may function subject to observance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
Anyone found violating these guidelines will be punished under relevant sections of Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Deputy Commissioners will strictly enforce the set of guidelines in those district where number of active COVID19 patients has risen to 100 and above.