Labourers walk home in Nagaland's State capital Kohima amid the total lockdown which was in force till June 30. The 10-day unlock period announced by the HPC will begin from July 1 onwards. (Morung File Photo)
• Shops allowed to open from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm
• 50-person limit for social events, places of worship
• Offices to open with 50% attendance
• Ban on movement from 7:00 pm to 4:00 am
• Mass public transport of non-essentials to remain suspended
Dimapur, June 30 (MExN): After its decision to relax the total lockdown in Nagaland, the High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 on Wednesday, issued guidelines of Unlock 1, which is to be followed from July 1 to July 10.
The HPC reviewed the COVID-19 situation in its meeting held on June 28, and noted a decline in the total number of active cases, number of hospitalization cases and number of persons requiring oxygen support across the State.
However, while the seven days moving average of the positivity rate of COVID-19 in the State has gradually declined; it continues to remain above 5%, warranting the need for sufficient measures for containing the spread of COVID-19, it added.
In view of the improved situation and taking into consideration the hardships being faced by the general public, as well as disruption being caused to the various economic activities owing to continued lockdown measures, the HPC decided to allow suitable relaxations and re-opening of more activities in a phased manner.
However, it also highlighted the need to sustain the substantial gains that have been achieved due to the existing lockdown measures while considering the fact that positivity rate continues to be high in the State.
As such, after taking the views of the Health & Family Welfare Department and the Districts Task Forces (DTFs) into consideration, the HPC directed extension of the existing lock down measures for 10 more days up to July 10, with further relaxations and re-opening of activities and additional guidelines.
As per the new guidelines, mass public transportation and inter-district movement of people for non-essential services are to remain suspended.
Meanwhile, the period of ban on the movement of persons/vehicles except those permitted for reasons/purposes as per the existing lockdown measures has been reduced to 7:00 pm to 4:00 am instead of 4:00 pm to 5:00 am.
Shops allowed to open
Shops/business establishments dealing with all kind of goods/items/articles are permitted to open from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm.
While the shops/business establishments dealing with essential goods and commodities such as vegetable, fish/meat vendors, milk booths, bakeries, local grocery stores, public utility services like LPG and e-Commerce services etc. may remain open on all the days; the shops dealing with all other goods may remain open on alternate days for which a rotational arrangement will be put in place by the respective DTFs.
Every shop, besides keeping hand sanitizers and taking measures for ensuring COVID-19 appropriate behaviors at all times, will also display prominently the status of vaccination of all the persons present running the shop.
Barber shops and saloons etc. where close physical interaction cannot be avoided shall be allowed to open after ensuring vaccination of the persons/attendants running these shops by the respective DTFs.
Offices
All the Government offices in the State may open with 50% attendance of staff on any day and subject to adherence to COVID-19 behavior at all times. The 50% staff not attending on any day will work from home and will be available on phone/mail for dealing with any urgent office work, as per the guidelines.
Private offices in the State may also function with up to 50% attendance, and subject to adherence of COVID-19 behavior.
Social events, places of worship
Wedding solemnization, funerals and sports training have been allowed, subject to an attendance of not more than 50 persons, and subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behavior and to all the applicable SOPs issued from time to time.
Religious places/places of worship are also allowed to open subject to an attendance of not more than 50 persons, and subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behavior and to all the applicable SOPs.
Based on local conditions, District Task Forces have been entrusted to take additional stricter measures in particular areas/wards/villages/towns/entire district, if in its opinion such measures are urgently required for containing the spread of COVID-19.
