GUWAHATI: The
Kamrup district administration has decided to crack the whip on those spotted without
masks as Covid-19 protocol went for a toss in the election season with little regard for social distance and use of masks.
Covid positivity rate in the state stood on Friday was as low as 0.14% and the number of new daily cases came down to 19 across the state. But the district authority is in no mood to take any risk in the wake of alarming rise in cases in other states.
Health sources said 27 new cases were reported in the state on Saturday, including eight cases from
Kamrup (Metro) that covers
Guwahati city.
An order issued by the Kamrup district magistrate, Kailash Karthik N, late on Friday said, “All persons moving for whatsoever purpose and under whatever reason/authority in public places like street, hospital, office, market etc, must compulsorily wear 3-ply mask or cloth mask.”
It added that in the absence of a mask, a gamocha (traditional Assamese scurf) or any other traditionally woven cloth in at least two layers, which completely covers the mouth and nose, can also be used. It clarified that no person or official will attend any meeting or gathering without masks.
“Anybody violating these instructions on use of face cover will be punishable under the Section 188 of Indian Penal Code,” read the order.
Senior health officials said all precautionary measures must be followed and the people must come forward for inoculation without hesitation.
“The new Covid infections are scattered among the population. While some travelled through air, some others must have been infected locally. Still, the Covid situation is well under control in the state,”
Assam NHM executive director, Manoj Choudhury. told TOI on Saturday.
A
cumulative total of 1,69,518 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 2,54,946 frontline workers (FLWs) along with 1,29,021 citizens (beneficiaries between 45-59 years of age with co-morbidities and beneficiaries aged 60 years and above in total) have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Assam till date.
While a cumulative total of 91,662 HCWs and 8,004 FLWs have received the second jab, only a cumulative of 85 cases of AEFI was reported till Saturday evening across Assam.