All the travelers/tourists entering the State of Nagaland, shall undergo COVID-19 Screening Test at the following Points of Entry (PoE): Dimapur Airport, Dimapur Railway Station, Dimapur: New Field Check Gate and Dillai gate, Kohima: Khuzama, Mokokchung: Tsutapela and Watiyongpang, Mon: Naginimora and Tizit, Wokha: Bhandari, and Phek: Lanye Junction and Akash Bridge.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
In view of the improvement in COVID-19 situation as gauged on the various parameters concerned over the past few months in Nagaland and other parts of the country, and increasing coverage of COVID-19 vaccination, and in super-session of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for travelers entering Nagaland government’s office notification issued on July 16, the Nagaland government has issued the revised SOP for the travelers/tourists entering the State of Nagaland would come into effect from November 11 till further orders.
According to an official bulletin, the SOP for travelers/tourists entering Nagaland are:
A. Points of Entry
All the travelers/tourists entering the State of Nagaland, shall undergo COVID-19 Screening Test at the following Points of Entry (PoE): Dimapur Airport, Dimapur Railway Station, Dimapur: New Field Check Gate and Dillai gate, Kohima: Khuzama, Mokokchung: Tsutapela and Watiyongpang, Mon: Naginimora and Tizit, Wokha: Bhandari, and Phek: Lanye Junction and Akash Bridge.
B. Those who are not required to be tested at Points of Entry:
The following on entering the State will not be required to be tested at the Point of Entry or required to quarantine and may proceed with their normal routine after entry while following COVID-19 appropriate behavior at all times, and further adhering to all the applicable SOPs for the various activities:
(a) Asymptomatic, and above 18 years of age, and fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (taken both the doses). The person should produce the proof of COVID-19 vaccination in soft or hard copy or SMS from AX-
NHPSMS at the Point of Entry (b) Asymptomatic, and above 18 years of age and hasn’t taken any dose of vaccine against COVID-19, or taken only the first dose, or between 12 years and 18 years of age, should carry a negative COVID-19 test report done through RT-PCR/Truenat/CBNAAT, with the swab given for testing not earlier than 3 (three) days from the day of travel- that is, if the entry in the State is on Thursday , the swab given for testing shouldn’t be before Monday.
(c) Children below 12 years of age, accompanying their parents/guardians/adult caregivers on entry into the State will not be required to be tested or quarantined provided they are asymptomatic.
(d) Asymptomatic, and transiting to another State (Assam or Manipur), without any stopover anywhere in Nagaland. The person concerned should produce the ticket for the onward journey or proof of self-
arranged vehicle, proof of address in the other State, and further while transiting should observe COVID- 19 appropriate behaviour and norms at all times.
C. Those who are required to be tested at Points of Entry:
Any traveler/tourist entering Nagaland, who is symptomatic, even if satisfying the conditions of vaccination/testing as in para B. 2 above, will be required to undergo testing for COVID-19 on payment as per the Government approved rates at the Point of Entry Any traveler/tourist entering Nagaland who is asymptomatic, but hasn’t taken two doses of vaccine against COVID-19, or has taken only the first dose, and doesn’t carry a negative test report of COVID- 19 in line with the conditions as mentioned in 2 (b) above, will be required to undergo testing for COVID-19 on payment as per the Government approved rates at the Point of Entry
D. Isolation/Quarantine:
After collection of the sample for the test for the traveller/tourist as in para C above, the person concerned will be allowed to leave, subject to the condition that he/she shall remain in home/paid quarantine till the test result is declared, which will be conveyed to the person concerned through SMS/Email/Phone call. An undertaking as in Annexure-I will also have to be submitted by the person concerned before he/she leaves the Point of Entry.
If the test result is positive, the person concerned shall have to undergo isolation at home or at a paid facility till recovery, or will be admitted at a Government Health Institution/Private Hospital depending upon his/her medical condition.
The person(s), if any, accompanying any inbound traveller/tourist who has tested positive shall also be required to undergo quarantine at home or at a paid facility for the number of days as decided by the examining doctors.
If the test result is negative, the person concerned will come out of quarantine and may proceed further with his/her normal routine while following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour at all times and further adhering to all the applicable SOPs for the various activities.
The concerned District Task Force should put in place a mechanism for facilitating the testing at the Points of entry, isolation at paid facility, or admission at health institution, as advised by the examining doctors. Home isolation/quarantine instead of isolation/quarantine at a paid facility may be permitted if there are provisions for a separate room and toilet.
E. Dignitaries and Senior Government Officials
In case of dignitaries and senior government officials entering the State, the Home Department will provide necessary facilitation and make arrangements for testing/isolation/quarantining as the case
maybe.
F. Military/Para Military personnel
In case of officers/ staff / personnel of Military/Para Military entering the State, the respective Military/Para Military formations/units will make arrangements at the Point of Entry for screening, and testing or admission in a health facility or isolation/quarantine, as applicable, and required, for
their personnel, in line with the provisions as laid down above for any traveller entering the State. The Military/Para Military formation/unit, wherever required, may contact the respective DTF for any assistance.
Meanwhile, the official bulletin has informed that the Village Councils/Urban Local Bodies under the supervision of District Task Force (DTF) in their local jurisdictions shall monitor any breach of
Isolation/Quarantine norms or COVID-19 appropriate behaviours, by the persons concerned who are undergoing home isolation/quarantining as per the provisions of Para D above, and immediately bring to the notice of the Sub-Divisional Task Force or the DTF for taking suitable action.
Further, it also informed that the SOP would be uniformly implemented throughout the State without any deviation and would not be modified by District Task Force, Urban Local Bodies, Village Authorities or Community-based Organizations.
Any person violating the instructions in the SOP will be liable to be prosecuted against as per the relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act 2005, besides action under section 188 of IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.