• Offline classes for classes 1-8 remain suspended
• Board Exams on schedule
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 31
As the state experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Nagaland Government has decided to extend existing restrictions till February 15 to prevent spread of the virus.
On Monday, Nagaland Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the State Executive Committee J Alam issued an order stating that all existing restrictions on social, religious, political, sports, academic, cultural or entertainment gatherings would continue to be in force till February 15.
Earlier on January 8, the state government had put a cap on the number of participants for any type of public gatherings. “Any social, political, religious, entertainment, academic, cultural gatherings, and all other kind of public gatherings shall be restricted and allowed up to 50 % capacity, or up to a maximum of 200 persons, whichever is lower, and subject to all the participants being asymptomatic, and being fully vaccinated (taken both the doses) against COVID-19,” it stipulated in the January 8 order. In case there is an unavoidable need to have bigger gatherings, they may be permitted only after getting express permission of the respective District Task Force (DTF), it added.
Monday’s order also stated that offline or physical classes for students of Classes 1 to 8 would be allowed from February 15, subject to parental consent of individual students and fulfilment of the conditions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will be issued by the Home Department.
The impending Board Examinations for Class 10 and 12 which are conducted offline by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) would be allowed as per the schedule decided by the board in March 2022, subject to the fulfilment of the conditions and SOPs to be issued by the Home Department. “Suitable arrangements should also be made for the students who are unable to appear the examinations on account of being tested positive for COVID-19 or who are symptomatic,” the order stated.
It further cautioned that any person or group of persons acting in violation of the directive as well as all other existing orders, SOPs or guidelines that are in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, would be liable to be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 besides action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and other applicable legal provisions.
