COVID-19 Containment Measures extended in East Khasi Hills from Aug 23: Here’s what’s allowed and what’s not

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 22, 2021

District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District, Isawanda Laloo has extended Containment Measures in East Khasi Hills District from August 23 till further orders to prevent the uncontrollable surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Night Curfew will start from 7:00 PM sharp to 5:00 AM daily. There shall be a total ban on movement during this time. Any unauthorized movement during curfew hours will be met with penalties, Isawanda said in her order issued on Saturday.

The decision to continue with containment measures was taken after observing that the number of COVID-19 cases in the district and hospital bed occupancy are both still high.

Political, public and social gatherings are not permitted including conferences, meetings and trainings.

Inter-District movement as well as movement to and from Shillong Urban Agglomeration is restricted and only those with valid passes are permitted to ply.

Entry of tourists is not permitted and all tourist spots in East Khasi Hills shall remain closed.

Opening of essential and non essential commercial establishments/shops/malls/other economic activities is permitted and will be regulated. All shops are required to indicate vaccination status of their staff in the shop premises.

Construction activities in East Khasi Hills are permitted with due permission from this office and the Sub Divisional Officers (C)/Block Development Officers concerned.

Home delivery/Takeaway services, e-commerce activities and courier services are permitted and will be regulated.

Central Government offices and State Government offices are permitted to function at 30% strength. Essential Departments of the State Department shall function at strength as decided by the Administrative heads.

All Banks and Post offices are permitted to open at 50 % strength. Banks shall close by 4:00 PM for public transactions and Post offices shall close by 2:00 PM.

Agricultural activities and MGNREGA activities are permitted. Efforts should be made to complete vaccination of all concerned.

International border trade is permitted and will be regulated by the Sub Divisional Officers (C) concerned with approval by the undersigned.

Saloons and Beauty Parlours are permitted to open, subject to strict compliance to the Covid-19 Protocols.

Private offices are permitted to open at 50% strength. They shall submit the application including the number of employees and their vaccination status to this office at [email protected] for permission.

Offices of Colleges are permitted to open at 50% strength, with due permission from this office. Number of employees and their vaccination status is required to be furnished to [email protected]. Strict adherence to SOPs is to be ensured during any offline activities including admissions and submission of answer scripts.

Offices of Schools may be permitted to open daily, at 50% strength. LP and UP Schools will give intimation to the Sub Divisional School Education Officer, East Khasi Hills District regarding the number of staff and their vaccination status while Secondary & Higher Secondary Schools will give similar intimation to the District School Education Officer, East Khasi Hills District. All protocols are to be strictly followed.

Gymnasium/Yoga Institutes/Fitness Centres are permitted to re-open for vaccinated persons only and as per protocols dated 1st March, 2021 issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They shall apply for prior permission to the Incident Commander concerned, and furnish details of number of staff and vaccination status of all employees. The SDO (C) and BDOs concerned will regulate opening of the same in their respective jurisdictions.

Latest Restrictions/Relaxations:-

Public parks like Ward’s Lake, Lady Hydari Park, etc., are permitted to re-open for vaccinated persons, subject to compliance to protocols. The Divisional Forest Officer (Social Forestry) and the Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), East Khasi Hills will make arrangements for compliance to order of Government vide No.POL.75/2020/PtI/111 dated 20.08.2021 and SOP issued by Tourism Department for Tourists Destinations for Local Tourists vide Order No.Tourism.22/2020/13 dated 31.07.2020.

Other Parks privately owned are also permitted to re-open for vaccinated persons. They will submit an application to this office at [email protected], with detailed plan for SOPs and Undertaking.

The respective Sub Divisional Officer (C), Sohra/Pynursla will also receive applications along with an undertaking and regulate opening of these parks as per SOP.

The following sports activities are permitted subject to compliance with the SOPs issued by the Sports & Youth Affairs Department for Resumption of Recreational and Competitive Sports vide No.SYA.91/2020/7 dated 07.12.2021. They shall apply for permission to this office at [email protected]:

Non-Contact viz., Archery, Shooting, Cycling, Athletics and Running.

Indirect Contact Sports viz., Golf, Lawn Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Snooker, Weightlifting and Billiards.

Minimal-Contact Sports viz., Football, Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Handball and Cricket for training purposes only by Sports Clubs and Associations.

Sports Competitions for (a), (b) and (c) above with only officials and no spectators.

Swimming in places with regulated entry such as resorts, club pools and public pools with staggered timings and prior bookings. They will apply to this office for permission with plan for compliance to SOPs.

Categories (b, c, d and e) is restricted to persons above 18 who are vaccinated.

Teer Counters and archery are permitted to open four times a week, subject to strict compliance to protocols.

Private and public/commercial Transport in East Khasi Hills is permitted at 50% capacity and will be regulated as per order No.C&S.2/CVD/2021/ORD/268 dated 21.08.2021.

Cyber-cafes are permitted to open as per SOP No.ITR.49/2011/216 dated 17.08.2021. As per the SOP of Information Technology & Communication Department, cyber cafes are required to register with the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Registered cyber cafes are permitted to open on the shop opening days.

Funeral gatherings should be restricted to 20 persons only, with prior permission from this office.

Religious places/Places of Worship are permitted to re-open, subject to strict compliance with the SOP issued by the Home (Political) Department vide Order No.POL.75/2020/Pt.1/108 dated 13.08.2021.

Marriage Rituals:-

Solemnization of marriages/engagements in religious places/places of worships is permitted with prior permission from this office and subject to strict compliance to point (III. 2(b)) of the SOP issued by the Home (Political) Department vide Order No.POL.75/2020/Pt.1/108 dated 13.08.2021. The total number of persons (bride and groom, family members, celebrants, etc. including invitees) in place of worship should be limited to one-third the seating capacity of the place of worship or 50 persons, whichever is less.

Marriage/engagement ceremonies outside religious places/places of worship like marriage hall, residence, etc is permitted with prior permission from this office. The number of persons shall not exceed 20 attendees in total (including bride and groom, family members, celebrants, etc. including invitees).

Wedding reception is not permitted.

Exemptions:

Health services including emergency services and vaccination.

Medicines and Pharmaceuticals.

Movement of essential goods.

Movement for medical emergencies.

Persons travelling on Essential Government duty viz.,

Medical Teams and officials on COVID-19 Duty.

Police, Security and Armed Forces

Civil Defence and Home Guards.

Fire & Emergency Services.

Electricity.