In view of the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in several parts of the country, the Nagaland Government today issued revised standard operating procedures (SOPs) for returnees and travelers entering the State.

A notification said the revised SOP will come into immediate effect. It said in line with the Ministry of Home Affairs directive, there will not be any restriction on the entry of returnees and travellers into the State by flight, train, or road at any entry point except the normal Inner Line Permit (ILP) restrictions, wherever applicable, or any restriction, imposed for the time being, on law and order grounds by the competent authorities.

The State government has made it mandatory for every returnee/inbound traveler to install and register in the nCOVID Nagaland Visitor’s App and Aarogya Setu before entering the State.

It said both the mobile Apps can be downloaded from the Google Play store while the state helpline 1800 345 0019 may be called for any technical assistance if required.

As per the revised SOP, every returnee/inbound traveller will be required to submit “Self Declaration Form” and for those opting for home quarantine the “Undertaking for Home Quarantine”.

The government has advised every returnee/inbound traveller to complete the submission of self-declaration and undertaking if opting for home quarantine in advance prior to arrival.

The returnee/inbound traveller may visit covidl9.nagaland.gov.in for getting updated information with regard to paid quarantine facilities and their availability on various dates, DTF/ district health helpline phone numbers and their email addresses and other concerned information.

The notification said any returnee/traveler if symptomatic on arrival will mandatorily report to the concerned district health authority or the district helpline number for further management.

Returnee/travellers who produce a negative report of Covid-19 test done not earlier than three days prior to arrival in Nagaland through RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT will be exempted from quarantine. The returnee/traveller should carry the soft/hard of the negative test report and produce it whenever asked by the competent authority.

Every returnee or traveller without the negative test report and asymptomatic will undergo quarantine for 10 days.

The returnee/traveller may either opt for home quarantine or paid quarantine in the designated hotel/lodge.

Meanwhile, the High Powered Committee on Covid-19 at a meeting on April 6 decided to place teams from District Task Force at Dimapur Airport for thermal screening of every incoming passenger and checking if he/she has a negative report of Covid-19 test done not earlier than three days prior to arrival in Nagaland.

Bhadra Gogoi is Northeast Now Correspondent in Nagaland. He can be reached at: [email protected]