Coronavirus in NE: No District Designated as 'Red Zone'; 6 Districts Fall in 'Orange Zone' Category

Guwahati, May 1, 2020:

Northeast India has been able to make it to the “Zero Red Zone” list of States prepared by the Government of India (GoI). As per the list, there are orange zones in the Northeast States but not a single district has been marked as red amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The information has brought in much relief to the States and the citizens. Among the Northeast States, Assam has three orange zones while Tripura has two. Meghalaya has one orange zone while States like Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have none.

Assam Health & Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to share, “It is heartening to share 30 out of 33 districts fall under Green Zone, as per @MoHFW_INDIA categorization of India's districts. Only 3 are put under Orange zone, and none in Red zone. This is a cause for both cheer, and caution. We need to remain vigilant.”

In a detailed order issued by the Union Health Department, there were no red districts in the Northeast States. Instead there were orange zones.

Under the new guidelines, a limited number of activities will remain prohibited throughout the country, irrespective of the Zone. These include travel by air, rail, metro and inter-State movement by road; running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/ coaching institutions; hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants; places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc; social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings; and, religious places/ places of worship for public. However, movement of persons by air, rail and road is allowed for select purposes, and for purposes as permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

For green zones:

All activities are permitted except opening of schools, colleges, restaurants, large gatherings and malls.

Buses can operate with up to 50% seating capacity and bus depots can operate with up to 50% capacity. All goods traffic is to be permitted.

In all zones, people above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes. Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and Medical clinics shall be permitted to operate in Red, Orange and Green Zones, with social distancing norms.

Prohibited for all zones:

Air, rail, metro, inter-state movement by road

Running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/coaching institutions

Hospitality services, including hotels and restaurants

Places of large public gatherings, such as cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes etc

Social, political, cultural and other kinds of gatherings

Religious places/places of worship for public

However, movement of persons by air, rail and road is allowed for select purposes, and for purposes as permitted by MHA

Movement of individuals, for all non-essential activities, shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm to 7 am

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