Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 490/20

NIGHT CURFEW PROMULGATED IN EAST KHASI HILLS

In view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19 in the state, country and globally and to put in place preventive and mitigation measures, to identify and take more stringent steps so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminated in East Khasi Hills District and Meghalaya by way of rigorous contact tracing, testing, quarantine, isolation and ensuring observance of strict protocols of the advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 18th July, 2020 under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 has promulgated night curfew in East Khasi Hills District including with effect from 20th July, 2020 upto 27th July, 2020 only for timings falling between 09:00 PM to 5:00 AM each day. The District Magistrate said that the order will not apply to Security Forces, Medical Teams on duty, Wholesale and Retail Pharmacies, Police and Armed Forces, Fire and Emergency Service, MeECL, NEEPCO and Power Grid, Food and Civil Supplies Department, FCI, PWD, PHE, Shillong Municipal Board, Postal Service, Telecom, Communications and IT Services, Press, Print and Electronic Media, Petrol Pumps including Indian Oil Corporation, essential services including Health Services, hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary clinics, labs, online/home food delivery. However, home delivery of food shall be exempted only upto 10:00 PM. Authorized workshops and designated spare parts dealerships of Health & Family Welfare Department and Government officials on duty. These services shall strictly comply with all protocols and procedures including social distancing, limiting of field staff to the barest minimum and other advisories of Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail. Movement of vehicles carrying essential goods, security forces, medical equipments and shops for repair of trucks on highways are also exempted. However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per laid down protocols. Curfew passes for timings falling between 09:00 PM to 5:00 AM with effect from 20th July, 2020 upto 27th July, 2020 can be obtained via online application at www.eastkhasihills.gov.in.

Press Release No. 491/20

PROHIBITORY ORDER

In view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19 in the state, country and globally and to put in place preventive measures and awareness, to identify and take more stringent steps to ensure social distancing so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminated in East Khasi Hills District and Meghalaya by way of rigorous contact tracing, testing, quarantine, isolation and ensuring observance of strict protocols of the advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 18th July, 2020 under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 has prohibited inter-state movement, any assembly whatsoever and while enforcing this every individual to mandatorily maintain social distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and to strictly follow the various protocols and advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department at all times, without fail in all of East Khasi Hills District including Shillong urban agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and C&RD Blocks with effect from 20th July, 2020 upto 27th July, 2020 only for timings falling between 5:00 AM to 09:00 PM each day. The order also prohibits operation of unregulated major markets and unregulated shopping complexes, Border Haats and markets located the inter-state borders, operation of all cinema halls, gymnasium, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditorium, assembly halls and similar recreational places, all forms of contact sports and spectators in sport grounds and stadia, operation of educational institutions, training centres and coaching classes (tuitions) barring online and distance learning, opening of religious places and places of worship of all faiths to the public including religious gatherings and congregation. However, marriage rituals in places of worship is permitted only after due permission is obtained from the District Magistrate. The order also prohibited all forms of large public gathering and congregation including social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious function etc, moving in public, work places and during transport without a mask, spitting in public places and consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc in public places, operation of cyber cafe, gaming parlours, jackpot parlours and lottery counter. Further, the order prohibits incoming additional workforce from outside the District except for skilled, highly skilled, specialized professionals and technicians regulated by standard operating procedures and order of the Labour and Health and Family Welfare Departments, Meghalaya as notified and issued earlier by the respective departments, but due permission with undertaking needs to be taken from the District Magistrate’s office. However, exemption granted for incoming skilled, highly skilled, specialized professionals and technicians will remain suspended w.e.f midnight of 23rd July, 2020 to midnight of 31st July, 2020.

In the order, general instruction also states that individual must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet or 2 metres in public places. For funeral and last rites related gatherings, the number of guests must not exceed 20. Wedding ceremonies will be allowed in religious places/places of worship and the number of guests shall not exceed one-third of the seating capacity or 50 guests, whichever is less inclusive of the host and the Authority/s presiding over the wedding. However, wedding receptions are suspended till further orders added the District Magistrate. Persons above 65 years of age, person with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes. Operation of supply chains, wholesalers, retail outlets, shops, services and other establishments in the whole of East Khasi Hills District will be regulated as per scheduled timings and dates which will be released in advance from time to time by the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District. Also, the operation of permitted shops, services, establishment, agricultural, industrial and commercial activities must strictly adhere to the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and national directives of Government for COVID-19 Management in Public Places and Work Places including mandatory compliance the advisories of Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail and also to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) pertaining to offices, both public and private, as issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Employers of all forms of activities including shops, services, establishments, agricultural, industrial, etc, must ensure that Aarogya Setu Application is installed by all their employees having compatible mobile phones, without fail. All residents of the District are to install Aarogya Setu Application on compatible mobile phones and to regularly update their health status on the app for containment of COVID-19 pandemic. The designated Joint Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions, Block Development Officers and District Heads of Office in East Khasi Hills will issue vehicle passes only to their respective officers and staff specifically for official purposes and they should ensure that these passes are utilized strictly for official purpose only and any deviation will render the Issuing Authority and the employee, staff, pass holder liable to legal action. The order also stated that the name, address, contact details, timings and purpose of the pass are to be clearly reflected. However, passes for all forms of outward inter-state movement from East Khasi Hills District will only be issued by the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District.

Press Release No. 492/20

ORDER

Upon announcement by Government to resume regulated operation of Iewduh, the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 18th July, 2020 has allowed 451 shops from fixed stalls in the market to open with effect from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM strictly on rotation basis and alphabetical pattern as per notifications issued by the Acting Syiem, Hima Mylliem. The order states that the Syiem of Hima Mylliem must ensure strict compliance by the shopkeepers to the Health protocols for market issued recently by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department. The order also states that Iewduh COVID-19 Management Committee has been constituted to monitor the operation of Iewduh Market with Syiem of Hima Mylliem as team leader, all Myntris of Syiem Mylliem, Policemen of Syiem of Hima Mylliem and Enforcement of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council as members, besides, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Shillong to be represented by Smt. B. Ranee, MCS, Executive Magistrate & Incident Commander of Zone-IV, Smti. D.V. Lyngdoh, MCS, Executive Magistrate, Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills, Shillong to be represented by Sector Police of Zone-IV and District Medical & Health Officer of East Khasi Hills, Shillong to be represented by the Medical Officer of Zone-IV as special invitees members. Operation of these 451 shops must strictly adhere to the prescribed standard operating procedures of Government and mandatory compliance to all the advisories of the Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail. The Syiem of Hima Mylliem will regulate the operation of these 451 shops and also to ensure due compliance to the advisories of the Government in the Health & Family Welfare Department with special and strict reference to social distancing concerning the COVID -19 situation. The Deputy Commissioner also directed shopkeepers and customers to strictly maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, not to overcrowd in one area or shop, to wear mask which is mandatory and non compliance will entail action of closure of the shops concerned, not to spit in public places, respiratory etiquette. Hand hygiene. Hand sanitizers to be provided by the shop owners at the entry and exit of the shop, frequent sanitization of the shop and to cooperate with management made by the Syiem Mylliem. The order also states that violation of any or all the norms and protocols will entail legal action and closure of the shops.