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GUWAHATI: Assam health minister Keshab Mahanta on Saturday said state government officials will face pay cuts from Monday if they fail to attend office due to lack of vaccination.
“If some government officials fail to attend office for not being vaccinated, such officials will face pay cuts,” Mahanta said. He added that government officials can not skip duty citing “vaccine shortage”.
Mahanta added that no staff in government offices, educational institutions or commercial establishments will be allowed to enter their workplace unless they get themselves vaccinated with at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“From Monday, in front of every government office, educational institutions, a self-declaration must be installed confirming ‘we are all vaccinated’. Everyone inside these premises should get vaccinated with the first dose at least,” said Mahanta.
He added that even private sector offices will have to hang a banner, confirming that their staff have been inoculated. The same instructions will be applicable for commercial institutions as well.
“Wrong information in the self-declaration will be a punishable offence. Every DC has been entrusted with the responsibility to keep vigil in their respective districts and ascertain the vaccination status in government offices under his or her jurisdiction, private offices and market areas,” Mahanta said, cautioning that commercial establishments flouting the directive will be sealed by the district authorities.
Even as active cases in the state have declined to around 5,000, the minister said the second wave is not yet over in Assam and the state is facing the threat of a third wave. Despite ample relaxations given in Covid curbs, Mahanta said the government will be stricter to ensure that virus doesn’t take a toll again.
Vaccination has gained momentum in the state with about 2.18 lakh getting vaccinated on Saturday itself.
Of the 2.31 crore 18+ citizens eligible for vaccination, around 1.5 crore (1,50,70,749) have been inoculated with the first dose. Around 33.19 lakh (33,19,255) have got the second jab.
In Assam, more than government offices, the prime focus is on reopening schools for Class XII, graduation and post-graduation final year students from Monday. Minimum single-dose vaccination for all is mandatory on campuses, except Class XII students below 18 years.
Even as Thursday, Friday and Saturday were earmarked for vaccination on campuses, most school and college heads have put the onus on teachers, non-teaching staff and students to get inoculated at their own capacity in vaccination centres outside.
Though the state government has allowed the reopening of educational institutions from Monday, a supplementary SOP published by the state education department has clarified that the educational institutions will get closed if the positivity rate in that district crosses 2%.
The SOP also stated that whenever multiple Covid-19 positive cases are detected in educational institutions, these will be closed for seven days. It has been directed by the education department that a physical distance of at least 6 feet is followed while preparing sitting arrangements in the classrooms.
“If some government officials fail to attend office for not being vaccinated, such officials will face pay cuts,” Mahanta said. He added that government officials can not skip duty citing “vaccine shortage”.
Mahanta added that no staff in government offices, educational institutions or commercial establishments will be allowed to enter their workplace unless they get themselves vaccinated with at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“From Monday, in front of every government office, educational institutions, a self-declaration must be installed confirming ‘we are all vaccinated’. Everyone inside these premises should get vaccinated with the first dose at least,” said Mahanta.
He added that even private sector offices will have to hang a banner, confirming that their staff have been inoculated. The same instructions will be applicable for commercial institutions as well.
“Wrong information in the self-declaration will be a punishable offence. Every DC has been entrusted with the responsibility to keep vigil in their respective districts and ascertain the vaccination status in government offices under his or her jurisdiction, private offices and market areas,” Mahanta said, cautioning that commercial establishments flouting the directive will be sealed by the district authorities.
Even as active cases in the state have declined to around 5,000, the minister said the second wave is not yet over in Assam and the state is facing the threat of a third wave. Despite ample relaxations given in Covid curbs, Mahanta said the government will be stricter to ensure that virus doesn’t take a toll again.
Vaccination has gained momentum in the state with about 2.18 lakh getting vaccinated on Saturday itself.
Of the 2.31 crore 18+ citizens eligible for vaccination, around 1.5 crore (1,50,70,749) have been inoculated with the first dose. Around 33.19 lakh (33,19,255) have got the second jab.
In Assam, more than government offices, the prime focus is on reopening schools for Class XII, graduation and post-graduation final year students from Monday. Minimum single-dose vaccination for all is mandatory on campuses, except Class XII students below 18 years.
Even as Thursday, Friday and Saturday were earmarked for vaccination on campuses, most school and college heads have put the onus on teachers, non-teaching staff and students to get inoculated at their own capacity in vaccination centres outside.
Though the state government has allowed the reopening of educational institutions from Monday, a supplementary SOP published by the state education department has clarified that the educational institutions will get closed if the positivity rate in that district crosses 2%.
The SOP also stated that whenever multiple Covid-19 positive cases are detected in educational institutions, these will be closed for seven days. It has been directed by the education department that a physical distance of at least 6 feet is followed while preparing sitting arrangements in the classrooms.
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