Guwahati, Feb 7: The Assam government has decided to withdraw all COVID-19 related restrictions, including night curfew, in the state from February 15, 2022, even as individuals attending public gatherings and candidates appearing in the HSLC and HS exams would have to be fully vaccinated.
All educational institutions, from primary to secondary levels and beyond, will resume classes once the restrictions are removed by mid-February while malls can function without any restrictions and cinema halls too would be permitted to function with 100 percent capacity, provided people are fully vaccinated, wear masks and use sanitisers.
Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision to withdraw the COVID curbs has been taken keeping in mind the improving COVID situation in the state.
The chief minister informed that less than 50 COVID patients are currently admitted at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital while the Sarusajai COVID hospital has no patient as of now.
“So by mid-February, we expect the COVID situation to further improve and life to be normal. Four elections, including Majuli bypoll (March 7), will be held in the coming weeks, HSLC and HS exams are scheduled next month while Bohag Bihu will be organised in April. So I appeal to all to get fully vaccinated including those who are eligible for the precautionary (booster) dose,” Sarma said.
The chief minister further said the state board and higher secondary council would issue a directive making double vaccination mandatory for HSLC and HS exam candidates. “The students (15 to 18 years group) should take the jabs timely so that they are fully vaccinated before the exams,” Sarma said.
As it is, there has been a consistent reduction in the number of cases from the last week of January till date.
On January 28, the state reported 2861 COVID cases with a positivity rate of 6.96 , which has dipped sharply to 2.39 percent on Sunday, with the state logging just 256 COVID positive cases.