Covid containment measures extended in East Khasi Hills

The night curfew will start from 7pm to 5am daily. Any unauthorized movement during curfew hours will be met with penalties, the district magistrate Isawanda Laloo said in her order.

However, a total curfew will be promulgated on every Sunday. Non-essential movement shall not be permitted on Sundays, she said.

The decision to continue with the containment measures was taken after observing that the number of COVID-19 cases in the district is still very high and that the positivity rate is above 10 percent.

The order said political, public, social and religious gatherings including conferences, meetings & trainings, weddings and sporting activities are not permitted.

Inter-District movement as well as movement to and from Shillong Urban Agglomeration is not permitted without valid passes except for restricted public transportation. Private vehicles plying without passes will be liable for penalties.

Public Transport in East Khasi Hills will be permitted at 20% for urban and 30 % for rural areas and will be regulated. Only vehicles permitted to ply on the said day will ply. Vaccination status of the driver should be clearly indicated.

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.

In-Situ construction activities in East Khasi Hills are permitted with due permission from this office and the Sub Divisional Officers (C)/Block Development Officers concerned. However, other construction activities requiring movement of skilled manpower or labourers will be permitted only upon due application and permission from this office.

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

Saloons and Beauty Parlours are permitted to open, subject to strict compliance to the Protocols issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department. They shall apply to this office for prior permission or through 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.

Central Government offices and State Government offices are permitted to function at 30% strength.

All Banks and Post offices are permitted to open with limited staff. Banks shall close by 4:00 PM and Post offices shall close by 2:00 PM.

Funeral gatherings should be restricted to 10 persons only, with prior permission from this office.

Agricultural activities and MGNREGA activities are permitted.

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

Private offices are permitted to open thrice a week for emergent works, with due permission from this office. They shall submit the application including the number of employees and their vaccination status to this office at dcofficeshillong@gmail.com for permission.

Educational institutions required to open for emergent administrative works only may apply to this office and permission will be granted on a case-to-case basis.

Number of cases will be under close watch for and in the event that there is no respite or any upward trend in cases, restrictions will continue to be enforced accordingly.

By Our Reporter