Guwahati, Jan 7: Amid rise in Omicron cases and the onset of the third wave in the state, the Assam government on Friday decided to impose stricter restrictions, directing closure of lower primary classes (till Class 5) in all schools in the state and up to Class VIII in Kamrup Metro district from January 8 to January 30, 2021.
Assam reported 844 COVID cases while Kamrup Metro district, which has seen cases spike, reported as many as 369 COVID cases on Thursday night.
Nine Omicron cases have been detected in some districts of Assam so far after genome sequencing even as the patients are reportedly stable and healthy.
Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Class IX, X, XI students would have classes for about three days a week and the staggered routine and time would be notified by the education department on Saturday.
“But classes for students from Class XII onwards, educational institutions including engineering, medical colleges and technical institutions, will function as usual,” Sarma said.
“The state health department will ensure that deputy commissioners are directed to close all classes till the eighth standard wherever necessary so that there is no overcrowding in schools,” the chief minister said.
Night curfew hours have been extended and the curfew will be effective from 10pm to 6am from Saturday onwards.
“Night super buses are allowed during curfew hours. However, only take-away food can be ordered by the fully vaccinated passenger during the journey. Inter-district travel will remain open though,” he said.
“After January 15, employees and people who are not vaccinated with two doses will not be allowed to attend offices, educational institutions and commercial establishments, etc. For any such violation, the head of the department in an office, or owner of the commercial establishment would be penalised,” Sarma said.
“Only fully vaccinated persons can attend public places or commute in city buses, private four wheel and two wheel vehicles. Such people can attend weddings, functions up to 50 percent of the hall capacity. Restaurants and buses will however run on full seat capacity only.
Besides, to combat the surge, the state government has decided to ramp up COVID tests from the 30000 tests a day average, also making such tests mandatory for non-vaccinated, single dose-vaccinated and children below 15 years upon arrival at airports and railways stations.
“Double vaccinated people will not be tested at airports and railway stations as we want to avoid overcrowding as Omicron spreads very fast. Leaflets will be given to them instead to instruct them to test at home as the Centre has allowed home testing kits,” the chief minister said, adding that the third wave would peak by the end of this month.
The state government is also encouraging home isolation of COVID positive patients to lessen the pressure on hospitals to keep beds available for critical patients. “Hospital treatment will be on payment except for below-poverty line patients and emergency patients,” the chief minister said.
He further said that since Omicron is a light variant with comparatively less hospitalisation cases so far, infected people are advised to stay at home but a caregiver has to be present. “Medicine kits will be sent home to infected people and the telemedicine system will be activated,” he added.