As the number of COVID-19 cases gradually decease and the number of vaccinated individuals gradually increase across the county, the Government of Assam has finally decided to withdraw all COVID-19 related restrictions in the state. Only maintaining COVID appropriate behavior is still compulsory.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has issued a circular to remove all restrictions related to containment zones, gatherings, educational institutions, public transport, work places, restriction on movement of individuals including night curfew, restriction on inter-district transport services and penal provisions.
Given the fact that vaccination status has also stands at 95% of the total eligible population in the state having received the first dose and fully vaccinated persons have also gone up to 77% of total eligible population in the state.
The following guidelines will come into force with effect from 6 AM of February 15, 2022 and will remain in force across the state of Assam until further orders:
- All regulations relating to containment of COVID-19 shall stand withdrawn, except the following:
- The Jurisdictional District Disaster Management Authorities shall be responsible for strict compliance of COVID Appropriate Behavior. That is wearing of mask, maintaining social distancing, regular hand wash and use of sanitizers at all places of public gathering.
- The people who visit places of public gathering shall strictly follow aforesaid COVID Appropriate Behavior without fail and the defaulter shall be liable for criminal prosecution under the relevant laws.
- District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police shall deploy sufficient number of teams for keeping utmost vigil at public places and for enforcing COVID Appropriate Behavior so as to avoid any possible of surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.
- Non-vaccinated people shall not be allowed entry in public places/ spaces (except hospitals) or gatherings. All people are required to carry proof of being fully vaccinated while visiting public places. The owners of public/private establishments will be responsible for ensuring that only those entrants who are fully vaccinated are allowed inside and this has to be done scrupulously by checking their vaccination status. Failure to do so will attract penal action.
- Shop owners should compulsorily keep sanitizers or hand wash in their shops. Advisory for maintenance of social distancing and COVID appropriate behavior shall be displayed by all shop owners.
- For working of educational institutions in offline mode, separate SOPs may be issued by Education Department.
- Penal Provisions for non compliance of restrictions
- Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec. 188 of IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.
- Any person not wearing face mask and/ or spitting in public places shall be fined to the tune of Rs.1000 vide ASDMA’s earlier Order No. ASDMA/24/2020/Part 1/122 dt. 14/10/2020 which can be imposed by District wise Task Force comprising of District Disaster Management Authority, Magistrates, Police, Enforcement wing of District Transport Officer and Enforcement wing of Guwahati Municipal Corporation in their respective jurisdictions.
