Gangtok, May 22 (IPR): A high-level Covid-19 review meeting was held at Samman Bhawan today under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang. The meeting was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Mayor & Deputy Mayor GMC, Chief Secretary, DGP, ACS, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Confidential Secretary to HCM, and officers of the Covid-19 Management Group.
Keeping in view the current situation of Covid-19 in Sikkim, the State government after much deliberation has decided to extend the state-wide lockdown by another week. The meeting decided that there will be complete lock-down till 31st May, 2021.
However, partial relaxation has been granted for ration and vegetable shops. These shops will be allowed to operate from 8 am to 11 am with effect from 24 May, 2021. The other restrictions and guidelines for containment of Covid-19 issued as per Order No. 19/Home/2021 dated 15/05/2021 shall remain intact, it was informed.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister has appealed to all to shop for ration and vegetables at their respective local vicinities while following Covid appropriate behaviour as conscious effort towards extending support to the State administration in the fight against Covid-19 outbreak.
The meeting also assessed the present situation of Covid-19 in the State with main focus on the State’s preparedness for screening, diagnosis and management of any possible cases of Mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, in the State.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister directed the Health Department to immediately set up a Technical Expert Committee to oversee and streamline the procurement of anti- Covid-19 drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and Covid-19 self testing kit, CoviSelf. This committee will also be monitoring and mobilising measures to tackle Mucormycosis or black fungus that critically affects a section of patients recovering from Covid-19.
The HCM applauded the efforts of the Transport Department in ensuring timely transportation of oxygen cylinders in the State. He further directed the constitution of an Oxygen Plant Set-up Committee headed by Transport Minister, Shri Sanjit Kharel, along with Secretary-Transport, Secretary-Health, GM-Transport and DE-Health. This committee will be auditing and monitoring the supply of oxygen cylinders while also deliberating on setting up of Oxygen Plants in various locations in the State.
The HCM further issued directives to the RDD Department for setting up dedicated Covid care and isolation centres at every GPU in the State in close coordination with the DCs and BDOs in order to extend proper Covid care for people in poor living circumstances, thereby mitigating the challenges at the local level.
He directed the Police Department to make adequate law and order arrangements to ensure strict vigilance during the lockdown. He has urged all the HoDs and officers to be present at their respective stations and be available at all times.
During the meeting, the HCM also announced a one-time incentive of Rs. 10,000 to be granted to ASHA workers from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in recognition of their significant contribution towards Covid-19 pandemic related work.
Earlier, Chief Secretary, Shri S.C. Gupta, in his opening address, presented a brief overview of the Covid-19 status in the State and highlighted various initiatives being undertaken by the administration in combating the Covid-19 outbreak in Sikkim.
SOPs For Lockdown Extended Till 31 May 2021
1. Period of complete lockdown imposed till 24th May, 2021 is hereby extended till 5.00 am on 31 May, 2021.
2. All State Government offices, private commercial establishments, institutions, gymnasiums, markets and factories, other than those engaged in production of medicines, medical equipment, oxygen, health and hygiene care products and allied sectors shall remain closed.
3. Temi-Tea Estate shall be permitted to operate with 50% of staff duly maintaining COVID-19 protocol.
4. Central Government Offices shall operate as per the instructions of the Government of India. The officers and staff working in such offices shall be allowed to travel to their offices and back during this period on production of valid Government ID card.
5. Sikkim Manipal Medical College is allowed to conduct examination duly following COVID-19 protocol. Examiners and Students appearing for this exam shall be permitted to travel or production of valid ID card.
6. All activities/congregations/religious and social gatherings, movement of people and goods and passenger vehicles, including two-wheelers, shall be prohibited/restricted except for the following exceptions:
i. Inter-district & Inter-State Movement of people and vehicles including passenger vehicles required for essential goods (e.g. milk, food items, vegetables, animal feed, petroleum products, medical supplies, LPG) shall be allowed.
The police on duty shall seek guidance of concerned DM, SP or SDM in case they need any clarification in this regard.
ii. Medicine shops/petrol pumps shall be allowed to remain open.
iii. Milk vending shops, vegetable shops, rations shops and fair price shops will be permitted to remain open from 8.00 AM up to 11.00 AM.
iii. Milk vending shops, vegetable shops, rations shops and fair price shops will be permitted to remain open from 8.00 AM up to 11.00 AM.
iv. Loading/unloading of all food items, vegetables, milk etc. shall be permitted from 5.00 AM to 8.00 AM. Transportation of all such items from wholesalers to retailers in commercial goods vehicles shall also be permitted between 5.00 AM to 8.00 AM.
v. Movement of people and vehicles required for maintenance of all essential services, for example hospitals, veterinary services, telecom, banks, insurance companies, power supply, sanitation and waste management, water supply, urban services, post offices, social security institutions like old age home, Press and media etc. shall be allowed.
vi. Concerned officials/persons should, at all times, carry with them, and present for inspection on demand, the deployment letter or valid ID Card to the Police Personnel on duty. Such movement should be confined to the normal working hours for such services.
vii. Movement of people and vehicles relating to emergency services including law and order, fire, relief and rescue, hospitals, wildlife and forest management, Covid-19 management, quarantine centres, testing and vaccination related activities, Government officials on emergency duty, army and para military forces GREF, NHIDCL shall be allowed.
viii. Movement of officials on duty including Head of Departments, Drawing and Disbursing Officer, Pay and Accounts Officials, Judicial officers and staff shall also be permitted on production of valid ID Card.
ix. Movement of people and vehicles (including private vehicles and passenger vehicles) required in case of medical emergency including Covid-19 testing and vaccination. All relevant medical papers should be shown to the Police Officers on duty, on demand, to facilitate permission for such movement.
x. MGNREGA works shall be permitted by concerned DCs on report of concerned BDOs in such wards where no COVID positive cases are detected.
xi. Movement of passengers boarding or returning from Pakyong Airport, Bagdogra Airport, NJP Railway Station on production of valid tickets. The condition of negative RT-PCR report conducted within 48 hours of arrival or alternatively, ten days of mandatory quarantine shall continue to apply to those entering the State.
xii. Movement of goods carrier vehicles of pharma companies shall be allowed. Concerned DMs shall regulate this.
In case of extreme emergency like funerals concerned DCs may issue emergency permits to not more than 20 persons for conduct of last rites, duly ensuring COVID protocols.
7. Penal Provisions:-
Any person violating these lockdown measures and the National Directives for COVID-19 Management will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Sec.188 of the IPC, and Sikkim Public Health and Safety (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020.
Annexure-II
National Directives for COVID-19 Management Face Coverings:
1. Wearing of face cover is compulsory in all public places, work places and during transport.
2 Social distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet in public places.
Shops will ensure physical distancing among customers.
3. Spitting in public spaces will be punishable with fine as per Sikkim Public Health and Safety (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020.
Additional directives for Work Places
4. Work from home (WM): As far as possible the practice of MR should be followed. 5. Staggering of work/business hours will be followed in offices, work places, shops, markets and industrial and commercial establishments.
6. Screening and hygiene: Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash or sanitizer wil be made at all entry points and of hand wash or sanitizer at exit points and common areas.
7. Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc will be ensured including between shifts. 8. Social distancing: All persons in charge of work places will ensure adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff etc.