Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Soundarajan on Wednesday declared night curfew from 8 pm to 5 am from April 23 (Friday) in the Dimapur district of Nagaland in order to control the spread of COVID-19.
In an order, Soundarajan also announced closure of all shops, business establishments and restaurants from 7 pm every night.
This was decided in the District Task Force meeting held in the deputy commissioner’s office in Dimapur as per the directive of the Nagaland Home Department on April 19 and order issued by the chief secretary’s office on April 16.
However, medical, emergency and essential services, including pharmacies, will be allowed to function fully but commercial activities and any assembly of four or more persons have been prohibited during the curfew hours.
The order said there will be no restriction on movement of goods trucks, other goods vehicles or any goods carriers, including empty vehicles and movement of people to facilitate the same. Movement of long distance night bus services, public transport, private vehicles and taxis from railway stations and bus terminals, stops/stands will be allowed on production of valid travel documents for facilitating movement of passengers by air, rail and road.
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The order said all shops located in New Market and Hongkong Market will open on alternate days by following Odd-Even system. Only 50 percent of footpath vendors in these locations will be allowed on any given day.
It said necessary arrangements for the same will be made by the Dimapur Municipal Council administrator.
All the weekly markets in the district will not be allowed to open until further orders. However, the vendors of the weekly markets concerned may be facilitated to sell their products in various colonies, wards and village by all authorities concerned such as town councils and ward/village authorities, the order said.
Soundarajan directed the gaon buras/chairmen of village council/colonies/wards to identify any person arriving from outside the State in their respective jurisdiction and instruct them to report to the District Task Force.
They have also been asked to instruct the people arriving from outside the State without negative Covid-19 test report to self isolate for 10 days.
The returnees have been instructed to submit their personal information such as name, age, mobile number to the data room at [email protected] or Whatsapp at 8837496902. Control room may be contacted at 7630877991 and 7630877983 for any queries relating to Covid.
Soundarajan directed the people arriving from outside the State to remain in self isolation for 10 days if no RT-PCR/True Nat/CBNAAT test report, done not earlier than 72 hours prior to entry into the State, is produced on arrival or if test result is awaited.
The order asked all residents of the district to observe Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, including avoiding crowded places, compulsory wearing of face masks and avail Covid-19 vaccination if eligible. All gaon buras/chairmen of village councils/colonies/wards besides the enforcement committees and police have been directed to ensure compliance to Covid- l 9 appropriate behaviour and other SOPs in their respective jurisdiction.
The order said social, academic, entertainment, cultural/political/religious functions outside containment zones will be limited to 50 percent of the seating capacity or 200 persons, whichever is lower. Festivals of any kind will be kept at the bare minimum, and in case the gathering in open space is more than 200 persons, prior permission of the District Task Force will have to be taken.
The order said random screening tests will continue as per the government directives.
Soundarajan said anyone violating the order will be penalised.
49 cases were detected in Nagaland’s Dimapur on Wednesday.