The Nagaland State Government has notified that the existing guidelines with regard to the lockdown in all parts of the state issued on May 11, 2021 will continue to remain operative in Nagaland till May 31.
The existing guidelines issued by the Home department stated the following:
All activities and movement of person(s)/ individual(s) shall be suspended during the lockdown period except the permitted activities including movements of vehicles carrying essential commodities/ food items and medical supplies including oxygen/ oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment.
All healthcare facilities, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, movement of healthcare workers including those for animal healthcare, COVID-19 vaccination, COVID testing and medical emergencies
All officers and staff working in the Governor's Secretariat, Chief Minister's Office, Chief Secretary's Office, Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench and district courts, district administration, police, security forces, Fire & Emergency services, Home department, medical, postal services, NIC, NSDMA, Home Guards & civil defence, SDRF, Power, PHED, Food & Civil supplies, Finance, Taxes, Treasuiy and Accounts, banks/ ATMs, IT & C, IPR, AIR and Doordarshan, Social Welfare department including functioning of Sakhi One Stop Centre, Women Help Line, Child Protection Services, Anganwadi services, LPG services including their delivery, distribution and transportation, private water tanker/ carriers, prison and related services, Courier Services, Municipal Services like cleaning and sanitation, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Directorate of State Lotteries, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and Administrative Training Institute (ATI); agriculture and allied activities and ongoing construction works will be allowed subject to the contractor/ owner ensuring adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours.
The guidelines stated that the concerned District Task Force will ensure that labourers at site are engaged and no new labourers are brought from outside. Further, transportation to and from the camp to the work site shall be arranged by the concerned contractor/owner; petrol pumps shall remain open, while ensuring there is no crowding; all establishments and personnel relating to electronic and print media, telecom/ internet service providers; the District Task Force shall evolve a mechanism to facilitate opening of vegetable, fish/meat vendors, milk booths, bakeries, local grocery stores, hardware, electrical and electronics shops including those that sell animal feed shops for public purchase from 6 am to 12 noon in consultation with the respective colony/ ward authorities ensuring COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
Public may be advised to shop their essential needs from within their colony only; Dimapur Airport shall remain open and movement of staff and passengers (with proof of ticket) will be permitted subject to adherence of COVID-19 appropriate behaviours; hotels for lodging shall be allowed to remain open with minimum staff. Further, restaurants shall remain closed for in-house dining. They may, however, cater through home delivery services. Food delivery, groceries delivery and other e-Commerce Service providers are allowed; funeral services limited to not more than 20 persons, said the guidelines.
The guidelines also said that all places of mass gathering shall be closed and all social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other large congregations barred, except for solemnization of weddings with prior permission of the District Task Force limited to a maximum of 20(twenty) persons.
Movement of all private and public transport vehicles shall be suspended except for medical emergencies with an occupancy of 50% and COVID appropriate behaviour. All other cases shall require special permission from the District Task Force. However, government vehicles whose movements are required for the departments as mentioned above shall be allowed subject to production of valid ID cards on demand.
The movement of inter-state transit passengers shall continue to be allowed as per provisions of the Revised Standard Procedure (SOP) for returnees and travellers entering Nagaland issued vide order NO.NSDMA-ER-COVID-19/368/2021/5274 dated 29.04.2021.
The Administrative Heads of Departments/ Heads of Departments/ Heads of offices and the core group of officers/ staff in their respective departments will attend to urgent and essential matters including court cases. All other Government employees should be available on call.
Strict enforcement of these restrictions shall be ensured by the respective District Task Forces and strict checking shall be done at the district entry points to prevent non-essential movement of people.
Any person/ group of persons acting in violation of the order shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005, the guidelines added.
