Manipur government has lifted all the COVID-19 restrictions imposed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, on March 31.
However, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and guidelines issued by the state education department on March 9 will continue to be in force, an order of the state chief secretary Rajesh Kumar, who is also the chairperson of the state executive committee of the state disaster management authority, stated on March 31.
Various restrictions like mass gathering, meetings, social distancing, wearing masks at public places etc. were imposed in the state since the COVID-19 spread in the state. The restrictions imposed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 were extended from time to time and the latest extension order was issued on January 29.
The order lifting all the restrictions stated that the absolute number of COVID-19 cases detected per day in the state is less than 10 and test positivity ratio is below 1% over the last seven days.
At the same time, the Union ministry of home affairs, in a letter to state chief secretary on March 22, had also advised the state government to consider discontinuing issue of orders and guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for COVID-19 containment measures.
As such, the state chief secretary as the chairman of the state executive committee of the state disaster management authority issued the order lifting all restrictions imposed earlier under the act for COVID-19 management. However, the SOP and guidelines issued by the state education department on March 9 will continue to be in force.
The state health department will closely monitor the situation and will take prompt and proactive action at local level as advised by the Union ministry of health and family welfare wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the order stated.
The order further advised the public to continue use of face masks and maintain hand hygiene.
