• Set up public gathering, road travel monitoring teams
• Rs 200 fine for violation of masking mandate
Kohima, November 27 (MExN): District Task Forces on COVID-19 across Nagaland have been instructed to monitor public gatherings, passenger vehicles, and mask wearing in public places, to ensure that COVID-19 testing and vaccination mandates are not violated.
According to a DIPR report on the review meeting of the State Level War Room on COVID-19 on Saturday, the measures were taken to ensure adherence to the standard operating protocols (SOPs) issued by the state government, particularly in view of the impending festive season and the likelihood of increase in large public gatherings and road travel.
During the meeting which was chaired by the state Chief Secretary, the Health & Family Welfare department gave an overview of the State’s COVID-19 situation and underlined the need to take additional measures, the DIPR report stated.
As such, the DTFs have been issued instructions to form teams who will inspect public gatherings wherein attendance is beyond 50% capacity and up to 100%, and to check that all the participants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or have taken the first dose of vaccination at least 15 days prior to the event. In addition, the teams will also monitor adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behavior as laid down in the NSDMA’s September 30 order and take immediate action against the organizers and participants under relevant laws, if any violations are found, the DIPR stated.
Similarly, the teams formed by the DTFs are to inspect the passenger vehicles, in particular, those entering the district at the check posts, to check that the passenger(s) are complying with the vaccination and testing conditions—full vaccination or first dose of vaccine at least 15 days prior to date of travel. In cases where the two conditions are not fulfilled, passenger(s) would have to 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, as specified by the NSDMA on October 28.
“If any violation is noted, immediate actions against the passenger(s) are to be taken under the relevant laws. At the district check gates, only the passenger(s) having requisite documentary evidence may be allowed entry,” the DIPR report stated.
Additionally, the DTF teams have also been given instructions to ensure that all person(s) in public places are wearing masks. “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 as laid down in the order issued by NSDMA on September 8, 2021,” it added.
All the DTFs have been further directed to submit daily reports to the NSDMA, Home Department on the action taken against those violating the vaccination/testing conditions, not wearing mask, violating COVID-19 appropriate behavior, the DIPR report stated.
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