OUR REPORTER AIZAWL, AUG 16
The Mizoram government has extended partial lockdown in Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) area and certain restrictions in other parts of the state for another seven days till August 21 to curtail the rising Covid19 cases in the state, especially in Aizawl.
The government order issued earlier on August 7 had imposed partial lockdown in AMC area and certain Covid-19 restrictions in other parts of the state from August 8 to August 14.
The new order issued on Saturday said that it is necessary to continue with the existing guidelines to prevent Covid-19 from further spreading because the state capital continues to register a spike in Covid-19 cases.
In areas outside AMC, Deputy Commissioners will devise separate guidelines depending on the Covid-19 situation of the area, the order said.
Movement of people, including casual visit of neighbours or relatives within the same complex or distant place within AMC except under exception case is strictly prohibited during the partial lockdown, it said.
Places of worship or religious congregation, educational institutions, picnic spots, public parks, gymnasium, sports practice (indoor and outdoor), tournament, social gatherings and trekking or hiking will remain closed or suspended in AMC area.
However, schools and Anganwadi centre will be allowed to open in Covid-19 free villages outside AMC, it said.
Construction works both under government and private, working at fields or garden and essential services like water and electricity supply, medical service, hospital, dispensaries, pharmacies, vaccination, LPG distribution, filing stations, among others, will also function normally in AMC area, the order said. There is no restriction on agricultural and livelihood activities outside AMC area.
All Group A and Group B government servants working in the state capital have to attend their offices without fail, while heads of department or office head will make separate roster for Group- C and D employees, it said.
Shops dealing in essential commodities, eateries and vegetable seeds or materials will open every day (between 5 am and 9 am for essential commodities/eateries), while shops dealing in other goods, including shops in market places, will be divided into three groups and they will be allowed to open on specific days based on their categorisation from 5 am to 5:30 pm, it said.
Commercial vehicles are allowed to operate in the state capital as well and traffic SP will make arrangements to enable both commercial or public transport and private vehicles to operate or ply on a rational basis or on specific days, the order said.
Travelling and intra-state movement is also allowed under very essential case, it said.
(Source: The Mizoram Post Vol 19 Issue 82 Aizawl Tuesday 17 August http://www.themizorampost.net/page-view?date=17-08-2021&page_no=1)