Assam govt allows malls, gymnasiums to operate

GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Sunday issued new unlock guidelines for the state that will be valid till August 14.
The order issued by chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said all permitted activities shall continue to be allowed between 7 am and 5 pm from Monday to Friday, subject to opening of only one side of the street. In Guwahati and the rest of Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, malls and gymnasiums are now allowed to operate on one side of the street a day, while in other districts these will open on both sides, stated the order.
“Malls and gymnasiums are allowed to operate between Monday and Friday on the same side of the street on which other shops are allowed (to open) in Kamrup Metropolitan district and both sides in case of all other districts. Restaurants and other hospitality services are allowed to function on all days except Saturday and Sunday with the maintenance of COVID protocol of social distancing,” said the order.
Hotels have also been allowed to operate, but, following Covid protocols.
According to the order which came into force from 7 pm on Sunday, the inter-district movement of people has been allowed on Monday and Tuesday only. No separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for inter-district movement during these two days. But, the movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited between 6pm and 6am.
All central and state government offices, including banks, insurance companies and NBFCs, have been allowed to operate with 100% attendance, except pregnant women. Point-to-point buses will also be operated for the staff, the order said. Non-contact sports in open space with social distancing have also been allowed. However, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places of the public gathering will remain closed. “Social/ Political/ Sports/ Entertainment/ Academic/ Religious functions and other large congregations shall remain closed,” said the order.
Meanwhile, acting against the Covid positive patients who have been found violating the home isolation rules, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration has cancelled their permissions of home isolation.
The administration received information that 18 of the 66 Covid positive patients, who got permission for home isolation, violated the rules. Some of them even came out of their homes to buy oximeter and other items.
The district administration on Sunday also started Covid testing in the apartments of Guwahati with rapid antigen tests. “If the positive persons in the apartments are detected, the safety of others can be ensured,” said deputy commissioner Biswajit Pegu.