As of January 7, 2022, a new SOP for COVID-19 guidelines for Assam has been released. Through consistent efforts and careful management of the COVID protocols, the Assam government had been able to contain the spread of the COVID pandemic to a great extent over the last quarter of 2021. The swift and effective vaccination drives nationwide and, in the state, had also helped in restricting the spread as well the mortality caused by the pandemic. But with the emergence of the new Omicron variant and increasing cases in Assam, the state has decided to sanction the New COVID SOP 2022 for Assam.
The order is in light of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order, dated 27th December 2021, that asked the states and the UTs to “consider the implementation of the normative framework for taking evidence-based containment measures at district/local level as conveyed vide MoHFW advisory dated 21st December 2021 until 31st January 2022 in view of the initial signs of a surge in cases of COVID-19 as well as increased detection of the Variant of Concern (VoC) – Omicron.”
Summary of details for New SOP in Assam
| Sl. No. | Restrictions imposed for all districts | Restriction time for all districts |
| 1 | Timings for the Curfew | 10PM to 6AM |
| 2 | Shop timings | Up to 9PM |
| 3 | Banks and Govt. Offices | Up to 9PM |
| 4 | Commercial establishments and offices | Up to 9PM |
| 5 | Grocery, Dairy, Fruits and vegetable shops | Up to 9PM |
| 6 | Grocery, Dairy, Fruit and vegetable shops | Up to 9PM |
| 7 | Restaurants, Dhabas, etc. (50% seating capacity) (For dine-in customers) | Up to 10PM |
New SOP in Assam: Restrictions on Schools and Colleges
The most important aspect highlighted in this SOP for schools is that the schools/colleges/universities will not be allowed to conduct physical classes. All of such institutions are asked to provide a quality education through online channels only.
Additionally in the Kamrup-Metropolitan district, schools for up to Class VIII shall remain closed. For the rest of the state, all schools with up to Class V shall remain closed according to the SOP. All education for these classes will have to be conducted through the online-only mode.
For the Kamrup-Metropolitan district, Class IX and upwards can be conducted on alternate days. The restriction applies to all other districts for Class VI and above.
For Degree/Post-Graduate final year students of Engineering/Medical Colleges, physical classes are allowed to operate if all the students and teachers are fully vaccinated.
The verbatim details for Restrictions on Schools and Colleges according to the new Assam SOP have been provided below.
E. Educational Institutions (Government and Private):
1. All Educational Institutions including Schools/Colleges/Universities shall continue to provide quality virtual options.
2. All schools up to Class VIII in the Kamrup-Metropolitan district and up to Class V in all other districts shall remain closed. No physical classes are allowed.
3. Physical classes shall be allowed on alternate days for class IX and above in the Kamrup-Metro district and for class VI and above in all other districts.
4. The physical classes in respect of Degree/Post-Graduate final year students of Engineering/Medical Colleges may be allowed with fully vaccinated students.
– ORDER No. ASDMA.28/2021/347 (pp. 3-4)
New SOP in Assam: Flight and Train Passengers
In the new SOP, no new details regarding any changes in protocol has been mentioned regarding the passengers of the intra-state or inter-state flight and train passengers. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the existing standards and procedures will remain in effect. The details of the SOP for flight and train passengers have been detailed below.
All passengers who are arriving into the state through flights or trains will be screened for having two doses of any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Passengers who possess the double vaccination certificate will be exempted from the mandatory testing upon arrival at airports, railway stations, road border points, etc. They also might be required to provide a negative COVID test report generated within 72 hours of their arrival in Assam. Passengers who are not vaccinated or vaccinated only once would have to go through mandatory testing upon arrival in the state. The RT-PCR testing will be done at the passenger’s own cost.
Additionally, irrespective of the vaccination status, passengers who are symptomatic would have to go through the RT-PCR testing upon arrival at their own cost.
The verbatim details for Restrictions on flight and rail travelers according to the new Assam SOP have been provided below.
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