Dimapur [Nagaland], June 30 (HornbillTv): The government of Nagaland has announced extension of the existing lockdown measures beyond June 30 for 10 more days up to July 10 with further relaxations and reopening of activities and additional guidelines. The chief secretary’s office issued a copy of the order on June 30 to the media which stated a number of relaxations to the restrictions.          

The high-powered committee on COVID-19 noted that there has been a decline in the total number of active cases, number of hospitalization cases, and number of persons requiring oxygen support across the state, the order stated.      

In view of the improved situation as reflected by several parameters pertaining to COVID-19, and taking into consideration the hardships being faced by the public as well as disruption being caused to the various economic activities owing to continued lockdown measures for an extended period, the committee was of the opinion that suitable relaxations and reopening of more activities in phases needed to be considered while still continuing with existing measures of the lockdown to sustain the substantial gains that have been achieved from the existing lockdown measures as well as for the fact that the positivity rate continues to be high.      

The government has issued additional guidelines. They are: 

1. Shops/business establishments dealing with all kind of goods 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 district task forces, the order stated. 

2. Every shop besides keeping hand sanitizers for being used by the visitors, and taking measures for ensuring COVID-19 appropriate behaviour at all times as being presently done, will also display prominently the status of vaccination of all the persons present running the shop. 

3. 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 the shops by the respective district task forces.

4. All the government offices in the state may open with 50% attendance of the staff on any day and subject to adherence to COVID-19-appropriate behaviour 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.

5. Private offices in the state may also function with up to 50% attendance, and subject to adherence of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

6. The period of ban on the movement of persons/vehicles except those permitted for reasons/purposes as per the existing lockdown measures is reduced to 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM instead of 4:00 PM to 5 AM.

7. Mass public transportation and inter-district movement of people for non-essential services shall continue to remain suspended.

8. Wedding solemnization, funerals, and sports training shall be allowed subject to an attendance of not more than 50 persons, and subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and to all the applicable Standard Operating Procedures issued from time to time.

9. Religious places/places of worship are allowed to open subject to an attendance of not more than 50 persons, and subject to adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and to all the applicable SOPs.

10. Based on local conditions, the district task force may take additional stricter measures in particular areas or wards or villages or towns or entire district, if in its opinion such measures are urgently required for containing the spread of COVID-19, the order stated.