Fully vaccinated travellers exempted from mandatory COVID testing in Assam

After several months of curb, Assam government has allowed the inter district movement of private vehicles and movement of people except to and from Kamrup (Metro) District. All incoming passengers, who have been vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be exempted from mandatory testing on arrival at Airports, Railway stations, Road Border Points in Assam provided they also possess a negative COVID test report of samples taken within 72 hours of their arrival in Assam.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has issued a revised and consolidated directive guidelines for both rural and urban areas which will remain in force from 5 AM of August 18, until further orders. Night curfew time will be from 7 PM to 5 AM across the State. Accordingly, all work places, business/commercial establishments, Dine in Restaurants, hotels, resorts, Dhabas and other eateries, takeaway of food items from restaurants/dhabas and other eateries, opening of Sale counters, showrooms etc. of cold storages and warehouses, shops dealing with groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, animal fodder will be open up to 6 PM across the State.

Inter-district movement of private vehicles and movement of people shall be allowed except to and from Kamrup (Metro) District. Inter-district public transport however shall remain suspended. The physical classes in respect of Final year of Graduate / Post-Graduate Engineering/Medical Colleges, GNM, Nursing courses and that of Aeronautical Engineering College may be allowed to be started with fully vaccinated students.

The revised SOP stated Meeting/gathering at any open or closed spaces is allowed up to 200 persons in open spaces (for public function) and up to 50% of the hall capacity or 200 fully vaccinated persons whichever is lower in closed venues. Functions related to National/International days the ceiling will be upto 50% capacity of the hall. Public gathering is allowed for up to 25 persons for marriage/funeral programmes. Religious places are allowed to open with up to 20 fully vaccinated persons per hour for iconic places and 10 fully vaccinated persons per hour for other religious places. Cinema/Theatre Hall will continue to remain closed.

Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department stated, “Whereas, testing facilities are available across the country to provide standardized COVID testing reports within 24 hours and upload the same in ICMR portal for cross verification;

All incoming passengers, who have been vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccines and possess such certificate, on production of the same in front of screening Authority, shall be exempted from mandatory testing on arrival at Airports, Railway stations, Road Border Points etc. in Assam provided they also possess a negative COVID test report of samples taken within 72 hours of their arrival in Assam. However, passengers who are symptomatic shall have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing at their own cost on arrival at airports, railway stations etc. in Assam”.

The total number of COVID cases stood at 5,79,899, while the death toll is 5,502. The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state stands at 97.49 per cent.