ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE OF THE SOPS FOR PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 DURING PUBLIC GATHERINGS, ROAD TRAVEL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
A meeting of the State Level War Room on COVID-19 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary was held on 27.11.2021 to review the COVID-19 situation in the State. The Health And Family Welfare department gave an overview of the situation, and it was felt that there is a need to take additional measures for ensuring adherence to the SOPs issued by the State Government from time to time by all concerned, particularly in view of the festive season approaching and the likelihood of increase in the number of large public gatherings and road travel by people across the State.
It was further deliberated, and instructions to all the DTFs have been issued for forming teams to inspect the public gatherings wherein attendance is beyond 50% capacity and up to 100%, and to check that all the participants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or have taken the first dose of vaccination against COVID-19, and at least fifteen days have passed since taking the dose, and are adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behavior, particularly wearing of masks as laid down in the order issued by NSDMA dated 30.09.2021. If any violation is found, then immediate action against the organizers and participants are be taken under the relevant laws.
Similarly, the teams formed by the DTFs are to inspect the passenger vehicles, in particular, those entering the district at the check posts, to check that the passenger(s) are complying with the vaccination/testing conditions, i.e., either fully vaccinated or taken 1st dose and 15 days have passed since then, and if these two conditions are not fulfilled, then the Passenger(s) are carrying a COVID-19 negative test report taken through either RT-PCR/TrueNat or CBNAAT with the swab taken for testing not earlier than 72 hours from the date of travel, as laid down in the order issued by NSDMA dated 28.10.2021.
If any violation is noted, immediate action against the passenger(s) are to be taken under the relevant laws. At the district check gates, only the passenger(s) having requisite documentary evidence may be allowed entry.
The teams so formed are to also ensure that all person(s) in public places are also wearing mask. Action is to be taken against those found not wearing mask and a penalty of Rs.200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) is to be imposed every time the offence is committed as laid down in the order issued by NSDMA dated 08.09.2021.
All the DTFs have been further directed to submit daily report to the NSDMA, Home Department on the action taken against those violating the vaccination/testing conditions, not wearing mask, violating COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour.
(Akummeren IA)