Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 15 (EMN): Manipur government on Saturday revised the Covid-19 restrictions, particularly gathering of people for any activity, in view of the rapid increase in the “test positivity ratio”.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Chief Secretary of Manipur, who is also the chairperson of the executive committee of State Disaster Management Authority, issued an order on Saturday.
As per the order, maximum of 50 persons or half of the capacity whichever is less in case of closed spaces and maximum of 200 persons in case of open spaces is permitted.
Wearing of face masks in public places, gatherings and crowded areas is a critical Covid appropriate behaviour and it should be strictly enforced and violators to be penalised promptly under relevant rules, the order said.
All district magistrates and district superintendent of Police shall be personally responsible and shall strictly enforce the above restriction by invoking relevant provisions of law, the order added. This order remains in force till fresh guidelines relating to public gathering are received from the Election Commission of India.
On January 8, the state authority had extended the night curfew period from 9 pm to 5 am. It also directed to increase online classes instead of physical classes in educational institutions.
Earlier the Health authority had notified that all air passengers/road passengers/or anybody entering the state should mandatorily carry a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test report done within 48 hours of arrival/entering into the state and the directive is already in force.
Meanwhile, the state on Saturday reported 158 new Covid-19 cases, when 2,215 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, officials said. Thus, the state's tally increased to 1,26,979 with 1063 active cases.
The state also reported two Covid deaths from Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 2,014.
On the other hand, with 37 new recoveries including 18 from home isolation in the last 24 hours, the total number of recovered Covid-19 cases in Manipur reached 1,23,865. Thus, the state’s recovery rate declined to 97.58 %, according to a press release.
Presently 312 Covid-19 positive cases are under home isolation. Till date 14,89,811 persons were tested for Covid-19 at the various testing centres in the state, the release said.
As per latest official reports, the state has so far given 23,81,712 doses of Covid vaccines including 13,58,792 first and 10,17,727 second doses to the residents, it added.