Peren: COVID-19 SOP violators to be penalized

Kohima, April 9 (MExN): Violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Peren district will now be subject to penalty, as per an order issued by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Peren, Sentiwapang Aier on April 7.

According to a DIPR report, the COVID-19 outbreak in the State has been declared as a ‘disaster’ on account of it being a serious health emergency under the ‘Disaster Management Act, 2005’ and the Nagaland Disaster Management Authority has issued detailed guidelines and SOPs from time to time.

 

While the SOPs focused on voluntary adoption of safety behavior by the public to contain the spread of the virus, it is observed that the SOPs are often not being followed, the DC observed.

COVID-19 appropriate practices like wearing mask, especially in public places, making the provision of hand washing facility by various establishments, maintaining physical distancing in high risk setting etc are not being followed, he added.

The violations pose a serious risk of infection not only to the defaulters but also to other people around them, the DC stated.

In this regard, the DC Peren issued an order on April 7 “in compliance to the order of the Home Department, General Administrative Branch, GoN dated even number the 12th November, 2020 and in exercise of the powers conferred under Section-51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 and also Section-188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860,” stating the actions to be taken by the SDTF and concerned enforcement agencies for violation of the SOPs and guidelines issued from time to time. (See table)

The DC further stated that this order shall come into force immediately and remain effective till further orders.