Shillong: In view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19 in the state, country and globally and to put in place preventive measures and awareness, to identify and take more stringent steps to ensure social distancing so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminated in East Khasi Hills District and Meghalaya by way of rigorous contact tracing, testing, quarantine, isolation and ensuring strict observance of protocols and advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 27th September, 2020 under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 has prohibited any assembly or gathering without due permission, operation of unregulated major markets and shopping complexes, Border Haats and markets located in the inter-state borders in all of East Khasi Hills District including Shillong Urban Agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and C&RD Blocks with effect from 28th September, 2020 upto 5th October, 2020 only for timings falling between 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day.
The order prohibits operation of all cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditorium, assembly halls and similar recreational places, all forms of contact sports, competitive sports events and spectators in sports grounds and stadia, however, permission for training etc., as per SOPs of Sports and Youth Affairs Department may be granted after due application to the Office of District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills and satisfaction of all conditions.
The order also prohibits all forms of large public gathering and congregation including social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural etc., without permission from the Office of District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills.
The order also prohibits moving in public, work places and during transport without a mask, spitting and consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco, etc. in public places.
The general instruction of the order states that every individual to mandatorily maintain social distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and to strictly follow without fail the various protocols and advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department at all times. In addition, the public shall strictly comply without fail to the measures mandated for containment areas.
Religious places/places of worship of all faiths are permitted to re-open with effect from 1st October, 2020 subject to strict compliance to the SOP on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in religious places/places of worship as laid down by the Government of Meghalaya in the Home (Political) Department.
Schools will be permitted to open for activities such as teacher- student counseling, clearing doubts, addressing hard spots, sharing unit/lesson plans, assignments, submission of works, students assessment programme etc., as per guidelines issued by the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya.
For funeral and last rites related gatherings, the number of guests must not exceed 20. Wedding ceremonies will be allowed in religious places, places of worship and the number of guests shall not exceed one-third of the seating capacity or 50 guests, whichever is less inclusive of the host and the Authority presiding over the wedding. However, wedding receptions are suspended till further orders.
Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.
Operation of permitted shops, services, establishment, agricultural, industrial and commercial activities must strictly adhere to the prescribed SOPs and National Directives of Government for COVID-19 Management in Public Places and Work Places including mandatory compliance to the advisories of Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail and also to the SOPs pertaining to offices, both public and private, as issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Employers for all forms of activities including shops, services, establishments, agricultural, industrial, etc, must ensure that Aarogya Setu Application and Behavioral Change Management App is installed and utilized by all their employees without fail with due monitoring. All residents of the District are to install Aarogya Setu Application and Behavioral Change Management App and regularly update their health status on the apps for containment of COVID-19 pandemic.
Private and public transport will operate in East Khasi Hills District as per orders issued.
Movement of vehicles and other traffic arrangement will be prepared and regulated by the office of the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong. Inter-District movement of persons is permitted and inter-state movement of persons will be strictly as per instruction of the Government of Meghalaya and all persons entering Meghalaya will have to mandatorily register for testing @http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid/testing.htm.
Skilled highly, skilled, specialized professionals and technicians will be permitted as per instructions of Political Department followed by SOPs of Labour Department and Order of the Health and Family Welfare Department as notified and issued earlier and all skilled highly, skilled, specialized professionals and technicians will have to mandatorily register for testing @http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid.
Designated Joint Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions, Block Development Officers and District Heads of Office in East Khasi Hills will issue vehicle passes only to their respective officers and staff specifically for official purposes and they should ensure that these passes are utilized strictly for official purpose only and any deviation will render the Issuing Authority and the employee, staff, pass holder liable to legal action. The order also stated that the name, address, contact details, timings and purpose of the pass are to be clearly reflected. (MIPR)
