A team led by Dr Kiholi DPO (RCH&UIP) Peren reaching out to the unvaccinated residents of Peren district as part of the Har Ghar Dastak Campaign. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@sophieakho)
Appeals citizens to get vaccinated
Kohima, December 14 (MExN): The Government of Nagaland on Tuesday announced the extension of ‘Unlock 8’ in the state with effect from December 15. The COVID-19 induced lockdown in Nagaland has been undergoing phase-wise unlocking since July this year, and the latest phase was due to expire on Wednesday.
According to an order issued by the Chief Secretary through the state DIPR, the extension of existing lockdown measures and relaxations will continue till January 15, 2022.
Simultaneously, the state Home Department issued an advisory pointing out the likelihood of an increase in the number of people moving from one place to another amid the festive season. In this context and in view of detection of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern, it is essential that everyone continues to strictly adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours like, compulsory wearing of mask, maintaining social distancing, regular hand wash with soap and water or sanitizer, avoiding crowed spaces and close contact settings, etc, it said.
The advisory stated that in addition to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours, vaccination is the most crucial and important tool in the fight against pandemic, and as such, strongly advised unvaccinated citizens to get COVTD-19 vaccination at the earliest.
Informing that there are teams from the Health & Family Welfare Department, going from door to door as part of ‘Har Ghar Dastak,’ it advised the people to avail the opportunity without any delay. Alternately, eligible beneficiaries may also get vaccinated at the nearest health facility. Those who have taken the first dose and is due for second dose should also get the second dose and complete the vaccination schedule, it added.
Public gatherings & road travel
The advisory further stated that any kind of public gathering which has been allowed beyond 50% and up to 100 % capacity, is subject to all the participants being fully vaccinated or should have taken the first dose at least 15 days prior to the event.
For road travel, it said that passenger vehicles carrying more than 50% and up to 100% capacity, the occupants—driver, attendant, passengers, would be subject to a vaccination criteria similar to that of public gatherings. However, if none of the vaccination criteria are fulfilled, then the occupant in question should carry a COVID-19 negative test report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT not earlier than 72 hours from the date of travel.
The District Task Forces (DTF) have been advised to form teams for inspection of any public gathering in their jurisdictions and checking if the participants are complying with the aforementioned vaccination and testing conditions, and adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours. If any violation is found, then immediate action against the organizers and participants are be taken under the relevant laws, it cautioned.
The teams formed by the DTFs are to also regularly inspect the passenger vehicles, in particular, those entering the district at the check posts, it said, adding that, immediate action against the passenger(s) is to be taken under the relevant laws, if any violation is noted. At the district check gates, the passenger violating may also be denied entry into the district and asked to return, it added.
Additionally, it also directed the teams to check if people are wearing facemasks in public places. Action is to be taken against those found not wearing mask and a penalty of Rs 200 is to be imposed every time the offence is committed, it said, while requesting citizens to cooperate in the interest of public health and safety and ensuring a safe festive season.
