COVID-19: Assam Secretariat Suspends Visitor Passes till Mar 31

Dispur, March 18, 2020:

The Assam Government, in view of the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in India, will not issue visitor passes, including e-passes, till March 31. This has been decided following the rising positive cases of the virus.

"In view of the spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19) in the country, it is necessary to restrict gathering in public places as well as office premises. Therefore, considering all other aspects and as a preventive measure, it has been decided that no visitor passes including e-passes will be issued till 31-03-2020," read a notification issued by the Assam Secretariat.

The Government has also advised the visitors to contact the concerned officers of their respective departments over telephone or e-mails for urgent communication.

This has come some time after Assam State Health Minister Pijush Hazarika had to come out of the Secretariat to monitor the queue himself. On Wednesday morning, people had gathered outside the Assam Secretariat to meet the Ministers for their concerns. However, in the wake of rising positive cases of the virus, Hazarika was seen monitoring the situation himself.

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"I request you people. You all are learned people. We have to postpone things. We have to take care. Work can happen two days later also. An emergency-like situation has emerged. Please understand. Please maintain a distance of at least 1 metre," said Hazarika.

It may be mentioned here that in a bid to shield itself from COVID-19, the Assam Government had also prohibited mass gatherings of all types in the State with effect from March 17.

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The State Government’s prohibitory mass gathering applies to birthday parties, religious functions and any other get-together. As per the prohibitory order, assembling at Mosques for Namaaz has also been restricted.

To prevent an outbreak, the Government has advised to stay away from “non-essential” social gatherings such as birthday parties and marriages. “If the coronavirus enters Assam, the containment will not be easy, as we have many unreachable area; places where the administration cannot reach”, said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Keeping in view of the threat posed by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Assam Government on Monday also earmarked Government school teachers to carry out awareness campaigns to better educate the people.

Assam has also ordered the closure of Kaziranga and all other wildlife Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries of the State from March 17 to March 29, 2020.

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It has been ordered that mass gatherings should be avoided in the Wildlife conservation and protected areas of the State, which includes Kaziranga and others, till the disease spread is contained.

A statement issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife & Chief Wildlife Warden, IFS MK Yadav read, “…it is decided that mass gatherings may be avoided in Wildlife conservation & Protected Areas of the State till the disease spread is contained.”

It added, “…in order to prevent any accidental spread of COVID-19 virus in the Zoological Parks and Protected Areas of the State, it is hereby notified that the Assam of the State, it is hereby notified that the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden, Guwahati shall remain closed to Visitors with immediate effect till 29th March, 2020.”

Additionally it has stated that all the “TIger Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries of the State shall remain closed to VIsitors with effect from 17th March, 2020 till 29th March, 2020.”

The State Government has also suspended all the permissions granted for film shooting, research, etc. in Kaziranga and wildlife reserves till March 29 with immediate effect.

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