TEZPUR, March 30 - The Sonitpur district administration is taking all necessary steps to ensure that it is well equipped to face the challenges and threat posed by the growing pandemic of COVID-19. With active support of the people, the Health department, other line departments and NGOs, it has been working round the clock to prevent the spread of the virus locally empowering the citizens with the right information and taking of precautions as per the advisories being issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Meanwhile, assembly of five or more persons in public places without the permission of the district administration has been banned under Section 144 of the CrPC.
On the preparedness regarding the burning issue, the Superintendent of Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Dr Madhab Chandra Rajbongshi said that under the guidance of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Assam Government, every possible measure has been taken to fight COVID-19 in the district.
�A total of 5848 people coming back to their homes in the undivided Sonitpur district (Sonitpur 3207 + Biswanath 2641) from other States and abroad are in home quarantine and their regular medical supervision is being carried out,� he said. Doctors, paramedical personnel, nurses and ASHA workers with the full support of the media, police and different NGOs are involved in the anti-coronavirus fight with total dedication, sources said.
However, it is alleged that despite repeated requests from the government, district administration, media and the police administration, in some interior areas like Panchmile near here, Bandarmari, Khelmati, Bahbari and Gorokhia Pukhuri area under Bandarmari, Phulaguri and Bahbari panchayats in the district, some unscrupulous and politically-motivated people are allegedly provoking the ignorant people to disobey the lockdown creating an awkward situation. Appealing to the district administration to check these areas properly, the village headman of Bandarmari area Tribeni Boro mentioned that some youths coming back from Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa to their native places are roaming openly. �It is very unfortunate that even some educated people are seen violating the lockdown, by organising community works like fishing, gambling and feasts in the area," he said. A socially vocal physician Dr Rupam Das, a noted paediatrician in Tezpur urging all to maintain hygiene and obey the lockdown said that alongwith him, the private doctors will dedicate their services for the lives of the people as and when called for.
The district administration has also directed that no person shall come out of his/her home except for procurement of groceries, medicines and other essential services or for any emergency medical treatment. The movement of all private and public passenger vehicles (including two wheelers) has been restricted. The district administration has also fixed the timings of operation of all shops/ establishments dealing in grocery items. All wholesale shops will function between 8 am to 4 pm, while retail shops will remain open between 9 am and 6 pm. Selling of dairy/ milk products will remain open between 6 am to 9 am in the morning and between 3 pm and 5 pm in the evenings. The shopkeepers are also to ensure social distancing norms among customers.