New Delhi: In view of the third wave of Corona epidemic and the increasing threat of Omicron variants, the Himachal Pradesh government has issued new guidelines and imposed more restrictions. According to the new instructions, all government offices in the state will remain closed on weekends, with 50% staff working on the remaining days.
Apart from this, all social/religious gatherings will be banned. The District Magistrates are allowed to fix the timings of the shops/markets. These orders will remain in force till January 24.
Earlier on Sunday itself, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, in a conference with medical and police officials, ordered the closure of all schools and colleges in the state till January 26. The CM also ordered the officials to ensure effective monitoring of the COVID group and perimeter to contain the outbreak of the third wave of COVID-19.
It was decided in the meeting that all educational institutions except medical, dental and nursing colleges in the state will remain closed till January 26 to ensure the safety of the students. Residential schools will also remain closed for this period. All nursing and medical colleges will remain open and ensure adherence to the COVID-19 SOPs and safety protocols issued by the health department. The CM has asked the officer to review the availability of beds, oxygen, PPE kits and medicines.
They have also felt the need to expedite the vaccination of children in the age group of 15 to 18 years and to give precautionary doses to health care workers. He also said that the mechanism of home isolation should be made more effective and revised home isolation guidelines should be implemented.
first published:Jan. 9, 2022, 5:23 p.m.
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