Lockdown Guidelines to be Followed till June 30

Aizawl | June 2, 2020: Mizoram Chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo in his capacity as Chairman, State Executive Committee, State Disaster Management Committee, Mizoram issued an order on May 31, 2020 for the current lockdown to be extended  till June 30, 2020. 

Guidelines during lockdown and measures to be strictly followed by all concerned have also been issued.

The lockdown guidelines given below supersede the previous lockdown measures issued vide Order No. 3.13021 /101/2020-DMR/Pt-III dated 17.05.2020 and shall be effective from 01.06.2020 till 30.06.2020.

A. Inter-State and International Borders

1. The International borders shall remain closed.

2. All Inter State borders which have been closed shall remain closed.

3. Entry points at Bairabi, Vairengte and Kanhmun shall be open for movement of vehicles carrying essential commodities and non essential commodities permitted by Home Department. However, plying of commercial or private passenger vehicles which have not been issued necessary permits by Home Department is strictly prohibited.

4. International and Inter State borders shall remain strictly guarded.

B. Quarantine and Screening of persons entering Mizoram

1. Entry into Mizoram without prior permission of the Government is strictly prohibited.

2. All persons permitted to enter the State shall continue to be thoroughly screened at the screening points. The procedure for return of residents of Mizoram stranded outside the State shall be done as per the “Revised Standard Procedure for Return of Permanent Residents of Mizoram stranded outside the State due to COVID-19 Lockdown”.

3. All persons entering Mizoram shall be quarantined at Government/community/ hotel/ home quarantine facilities for a period of 14 days. During the period of quarantine the relevant guidelines issued by Health & Family Welfare Department shall be followed and such quarantined persons shall register themselves on the mCOVID 19 and Aarogya Setu.

4. Drivers and handymen of transport vehicles based in Mizoram engaged in procuring goods from outside the State shall operate only from designated Quarantine facilities. They shall be allowed to leave such quarantine facilities only after completion of 14 (fourteen) days quarantine counting from the date of their last trip outside the State. During their time in Quarantine they shall not meet family members nor mingle with the public. They shall register themselves on Aarogya Setu.

5. Drivers and handymen engaged in transportation of goods who are based outside the State shall continue the practice of cooking their food on the road side in the outskirts of towns. They shall not be allowed to mingle with the general population and shall depart as soon as unloading of goods is completed. During the course of unloading of their goods they will maintain 2 metres distance from others. Such drivers and handymen shall register themselves on Aarogya Setu.

6. Drivers and Handymen of oil tankers owned by Mizoram Petroleum Dealer Association (AMPEDA) and Mizoram Tanker Association (MTDA) who are residents of Mizoram shall operate from designated locations at Vairengte. They shall return to such designated locations immediately after they complete the delivery to the filling stations. They shall register themselves on Aarogya Setu.

7. Such drivers and handyman mentioned above may call the State Control Room (Toll free 1070, landline 0389 2335842/2335837 and mobile 9366331931) in case they require assistance.

C. Movement of Commodities

1. No permits shall be required for the movement of essential commodities and other non essential commodities specifically notified by Home Department.

2. Declaration shall be made either through mPass on mCOVID-19 mobile application, or in writing at the entry point, in all instances of transportation of goods to the State.

3. However, for transportation of all other non essential commodities which have not been specifically notified by Home Department, permits shall be obtained from Home Department through mPass on mCOVID-19 mobile application

4. No permits shall be required for movement of commodities within Mizoram.

D. Shops and Establishments

1. Shops, business and other establishments are to operate by strictly adhering to the ‘Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Social Distancing’ which is appended as Attachment-I.

2. All shops and business establishments are permitted to open. However, in busy commercial areas within Aizawl Municipality and District Headquarters, shops and shops located within the same building shall be opened in a staggered manner such that adjacent shops within such locations are not open on the same day. No shop should remain open on consecutive days. This shall not apply to stores selling school books, shops selling essential commodities and groceries, drug stores, Health and Veterinary Clinics or Veterinary shops. The Deputy Commissioner of each District shall make the necessary arrangements for implementation of these measures.

3. In all other towns and villages, shops shall be opened without restrictions. However, the Deputy Commissioner concerned may issue guidelines or impose restrictions if deemed necessary.

4. To facilitate easy access to fruit and vegetables, concerned LLTF/VLTF shall make necessary arrangement for organizing markets within their respective areas, and ensure that vendors are seated at a distance of not less than 2 metres. In order to avoid the gathering of large crowds on Saturday markets, LLTF/VLTF shall organize market days at least thrice aweek. However, “Bazarpui” shall remain closed.

5. Home delivery of fruits, vegetables and other produce shall be permitted.

6. Public parks, picnic spots, movie theatres, gyms, spas, and other public places of entertainment will remain closed.

7. Street vending including that of vegetables and other farm produce is strictly prohibited.

8. All shops with the exception of pharmaceutical shops shall be closed by 5:00 PM

9. Stranded travellers in Mizoram may stay at hotels, and the restaurants of such hotels shall be permitted to serve their in house guest. However, neither the hotel nor restaurant shall be open to the public.

10. Dining at Restaurants is prohibited. However, home delivery and take away services are permitted.

11. Beauty Parlours and haircutting salons shall keep a register of the names and addresses of their customers. This will be useful in case contact tracing becomes necessary.

E. Educational, Religious Institutions and public places

1. Educational & religious institutions and training institutes will remain closed during this period. However, their administrative offices may be opened.

2. All public gatherings including wedding receptions, functions for celebration anniversaries and birthdays, laying of memorial stone (lungphun), games & sports tournaments, book release functions, political and social gatherings, any entertainment programmes are prohibited.

3. Not more than 20 persons shall be allowed to gather in a funeral procession or a wedding programme.

F. Restrictions on Travel & Movement of People

1. Commercial passenger vehicles plying within the State and town/city buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and two wheeler are allowed to operate. However, the seating capacity as recorded in their registration certificate shall not be exceeded. All drivers and passengers shall wear face masks and hand sanitizers shall be placed in all public transportation for the use of passengers. The Standard Operating Procedure to be followed by drivers and passengers of commercial vehicles is appended as Attachment-2.

2. Intra state movement of vehicles carrying goods is permitted;

3. Within the Aizawl Municipal Area, vehicles will ply on ‘odd even’ basis such that only vehicles bearing ‘odd’ registration numbers shall ply on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Alternately, vehicles bearing ‘even’ registration numbers shall ply on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. No vehicle shall ply on Sundays. This restriction shall also apply to any other vehicle which enters Aizawl Municipal Area from elsewhere.

4. The ‘odd even’ based restriction and the restriction of vehicular movement on Sundays shall not apply to vehicles used by Government employees on COVlD-19 related duties, ambulances and vehicles used for medical/veterinary emergencies, vehicles of employees of Government and Private hospitals, vehicles of electronic and print media persons, vehicles registered in the name of Churches, vehicles used for collection/distribution of milk, garbage trucks, vehicles used by LLTF on duty, inter village/town/district buses and maxi cabs and trucks carrying goods from outside the State.

5. Superintendent of Police (Traffic) may give exemptions from the ‘odd even’ rule for vehicles plying within, to and from Aizawl in emergency/urgent cases.

6. Quarantine of persons travelling within the State is not necessary unless they display COVID-19 symptoms or have contact history with a COVlD-19 patient.

G. Measures for the General Public

1. During the period of lockdown gatherings of more than 5 (five) persons is prohibited. This shall not include gatherings at funeral proceedings and wedding programmes mentioned in Clause E (3).

2. No person shall leave the house and compound except on essential errands.

3. Movement of individual shall be strictly prohibited between 7:30 PM and 4:30 AM. This shall not apply to persons on COVID 19 related duties and others exempted by the District Magistrate. All District Magistrates shall issue prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in this regard.

4. Persons who are 65 years of age, those having co morbidities, pregnant women and children under 10 years of age will remain indoors unless it is unavoidable.

5. Wearing a face mask or similar devices outside (public places/public gatherings) and in hospitals shall be mandatory.

6. Social distancing is to be maintained in public places by maintaining at least 2 (two) metres distance between individuals.

7. Entertaining of guests from outside Mizoram is strictly prohibited. Exemption may be given by Home Department or Deputy Commissioners in exceptional cases.

H. Government of Mizoram Offices

1. Medical personnel of Health Department, police, home guards, civil defence, fire & emergency services, disaster management, civil aviation, prisons, excise & narcotics, municipal services, forest field works, technical staff of PHE, P&ED and all offices outside Aizawl city shall function without any restrictions.

2. Other Government offices Secretariat, Directorates, District Administration and field Offices shall be open. All Group A & B officers are to function with 100% attendance and Group C & D staff are to attend in staggered batches of 50% of their strength. However, attendance of more than 50% of the staff may be enforced by the Secretary, Head of Department or Head of Office based on exigencies of work. Constitutional bodies and boards, corporations and statutory bodies under Government of Mizoram shall also function as aforesaid.

3. Head of Office may grant commuted leave without the production of medical certificate to Government employees with co-morbidities and pregnant women.

4. The Heads of Offices will ensure that the SOP on Social Distancing is strictly followed.

5. Visitors are not allowed in Government offices unless they have obtained prior permission of the officer whom they want to meet.

6. Unnecessary official meetings should be avoided. As far as possible, consultation may be held through IT media. District officials are not to be summoned to the State capital for meetings.

7. Correspondences with other Departments and Offices should be done via email and other electronic media as far as possible.

8. All Departments should explore the use of electronic media and IT tools in providing services to the public. lCT Department shall take the initiative to develop the necessary platform.

I. Other Offices within Mizoram

Offices of the Central Government, Central PSUs, RBI, banks, financial institutions and constitutional/statutory bodies within Mizoram shall function as per the guidelines issued by their headquarters.

J. Other activities

Developmental works and activities including individual livelihood activities are allowed without restriction. However, labourers within the state shall be engaged. Standard Operating Procedure for social distancing at Attachment-I should be strictly followed.

K. Penal provision

Any person violating these lockdown measures will be liable to he proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, The Mizoram (Containment 85 Prevention of COVID 19) Ordinance, 2020 Section 5, besides legal action under Sec. 188 of the IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.

The Government may revise and modify these provisions if necessary.

 - DIPR