Assam government has made full COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for anyone entering public space in the state from January 15 onwards.
Taking a stern view on people who are yet to get their second dose of vaccination, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 7 said that only those people who are fully vaccinated will be allowed in public spaces. However, they are allowed to go to hospitals.
The state government on January 7 released a fresh COVID-19 SOP in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases. “The third wave has began from January 1,” CM Sarma said.
According to the new SOP issued by Assam chief secretary Jishnu Baruah, new curfew time will be from 10 pm to 6 am.
“All government servants will be fully vaccinated and will attend office. Employees who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed to attend office and they will have to avail leave, if available or extra ordinary leave for which they will not be paid salary. Employees engaged in emergency, essential services shall attend their duty without any restrictions at any place,” the new SOP said.
It also stated that, all schools up to Class 8 in Kamrup Metro district and up to Class 5 in all other districts will remain closed and no physical classes are allowed.
Chief minister Sarma said that, from January 8 all government and private schools up to Class 5 will be closed across the state till January 30 and up to Class 8 only in Guwahati. The physical classes of Class 9 to Class 11 will be run on rotation mode (three days a week) while Class 12, engineering colleges, medical colleges will run as usual.
“Those who are not fully vaccinated will no longer be allowed to enter in all government offices, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, public places except hospitals from January 15. Hotel, restaurant, shopping mall, cinema hall will be fined Rs 25,000 for allowing entry of those who are not fully vaccinated. Restaurants are to be allowed to operate at 100 per cent seating capacity with fully vaccinated persons,” Sarma said.
“All public transport authorities will enforce COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. No standing passenger will be allowed in public transport. All inter-district passenger transport and movement will be allowed only with fully vaccinated passengers. Industrial units & tea gardens may function subject to observance of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour,” he added.
