1. We are in the midst of the Festive season and there is a likelihood of increase in the number of people moving from one place to another, particularly many town dwellers going to the villages for celebration and also villagers going to urban areas for celebrations. In this context, and also in view of detection of a new COVID-19 variant the Omicron (Variant of Concern), it is essential that everyone continues to strictly adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours like, compulsory wearing of mask, maintaining social distancing, regular hand wash with soap and water or sanitizer, avoiding crowed spaces and close contact settings, etc. Further, as has been seen world over, in addition to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours, vaccination is the most crucial and important tool in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated, they are strongly advised to get COVTD-19 Vaccination at the earliest. There are teams from the Health & Family Welfare Department, going from door to door as part of 'Har Ghar Dastak'. Everyone needs to avail this opportunity to get himself/herself vaccinated without any delay whatsoever. Alternately, eligible beneficiaries may also get vaccinated at the nearest health facility. Those who have taken the first dose and is due for second dose should also get the second dose and complete the vaccination schedule.
2. It may also be noted by everyone that any kind of public gathering which has been allowed beyond 50% and up to 100 % capacity, is subject to all the participants being fully vaccinated or should have taken a single dose and at least 15 (fifteen) days should have passed since taking the 1st (first) dose. Everyone is hence advised to take note of these conditions and ensure that in any public gathering there is no participant who is unvaccinated.
3. During road travel also, any passenger vehicle which is carrying more than 50% and up to 100% capacity, the driver(s)/attendant(s)/Passenger(s) are subject to similar vaccination conditions as mentioned above and it is further provided that if none of the vaccination criteria are fulfilled, then the driver(s)/attendant(s)/Passenger(s) should carry 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.
4. The District Task Forces (DTF) have been advised to form teams for inspection of any public gathering in their jurisdictions and checking if the participants are complying with the above mentioned vaccination/testing conditions, and adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behaviours. If any violation is found, then immediate action against the organizers and participants are be taken under the relevant laws.
5. The teams formed by the DTFs are to also regularly inspect the passenger vehicles, in particular, those entering the district at the check posts, to check if the passengers travelling are complying with the aforesaid vaccination/testing conditions, and adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behavior. If any violation is noted, immediate action against the passenger(s) is to be taken under the relevant laws. At the district check gates, the passenger violating may also be denied entry into the district and asked to return.
6. The teams so formed have been also advised to also check if people are wearing facemasks in public places and 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.
7. In the interest of public health and safety all are further requested to continue adhering to the COVID-19 appropriate behaviors and comply with all the SOPs issued by the State Government for preventing spread of COVID-19 and ensuring a safe festive season.
(DIPR)