Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang chaired a high-level meeting at Samman Bhawan, Gangtok, today, to review the Covid-19 situation.
After detailed discussion, the following broad decisions were taken by the meeting:
1. Complete ban for one month would be enforced on all socio-religious and entertainment-related activities like marriage, pujas and birthday parties and other get-togethers, both in urban and rural areas.
2. Keeping in view the present situation, the practice of serving food and beverages during funerals and last rites will be restricted.
3. IEC and mass awareness on Covid Appropriate Behaviour will be upscaled. It was decided to enforce strict penalties on people and establishments violating Covid-19 guidelines.
4. The meeting also decided to put a complete end to the practice of issuing special permits, other than for health and police personnel.
5. Police will strictly enforce the odd-even rule for vehicles without any exception.
6. After reviewing the containment measures, the meeting decided that from now onwards, if any person in a ward or village tests positive, the entire ward will be declared a containment zone and strict measures will be enforced to prevent further spread. In case of urban or semi-urban areas or towns, the entire building will be contained.
7. Any relief work, social or medical service should compulsorily be routed through the District Collectors.
8. Only in-house puja or rituals will be allowed in religious places. There will be a complete ban on visitors to any religious place or institution.
Principal Secretary of Home Department R. Telang also present this meeting. He thanked the Chief Minister for his guidance and for the timely decisions. He also thanked everyone present in the meeting for their contribution.