Amid the surging COVID-19 cases and Omicron threat, the district magistrate of Bishnupur, Manipur on Monday ordered that the revised COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Home Department on January 8 must be followed in the district with immediate effect.

As per the revised COVID-19 SOP, night curfew in the state has been set from 9 pm to 5 am.

"Social gathering is allowed subject to ensuring that COVID Appropriate Behaviour i.e. wearing of mask, maintaining physical distance are followed by all present in the venue. The gathering should be preferably in open halls and spaces. In case it is held in enclosed spaces or halls, the number of people inside should not be more than 50 percent capacity of the hall/space," the order read.

The Home Department has also ordered that micro containment zones should be strictly monitored by dedicated Police Department teams and Health Department teams and DCs should involve the local clubs/local bodies with specific jurisdictions.

It also stated that the new COVID-19 cases will be isolated as soon as possible, while directing the Health Department to scale up vaccination, contact tracing and testing by providing additional manpower, mobility support and IEC-Advocacy.

"All establishments of print and electronic media and essential services and movement of their personnel are allowed during curfew," it added.