Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, 15 May: The state government has announced a 14-day lockdown in Tawang district, from 5 am of 17 May to 5 am of 31 May, following a steady increase in the weekly trend of Covid positive rate.
This was informed by Principal Health Secretary Dr Sharat Chauhan during a virtual press conference on Saturday evening.
As per data available with the health department, the weekly trend of positive rate in Tawang had increased from 4.8 percent (between 15 and 21 April) to 13.3 percent (expected between 13 and 19 May).
Earlier, on 14 May, the district administration, the health department, the local MLA and panchayat leaders had unanimously resolved to recommend imposition of lockdown in entire Tawang district for 14 days to break the chain of infection, which was approved by the state government on the 15th.
Accordingly, Tawang DC Sang Phuntsok issued an order on the evening of 15 May “to mitigate and take up preventive measures to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the district.”
As per the order, all shops and business establishments, along with public and vehicular movement in the entire district will be suspended during the lockdown period.
Offices and institutions, both government and private, will also not operate, except for those engaged in essential duties.
All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions and other gatherings will also remain suspended during the two-week lockdown.
In case of funerals, congregation of more than 20 persons will not be permitted.
Construction activities at sites operated by government and private individuals will also remain suspended; however, “in-situ construction activities shall be exempted,” the order said.
Exemptions are in place for movement of people for vaccination, observing Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, with proof of registration in the CoWIN portal, including proof of age.
