Nagaland government on November 17 had issued a fresh advisory for events such as weddings and other social events to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The advisory has been issued by the Nagaland government to encourage the use of digital platforms to minimise physical contact.

The advisory has listed out a set of specifications to be followed before and after the events.

Before the event

• The wedding/marriage/event should be planned by keeping in mind full compliance with the SOPs which have been issued from time to time for preventing the spread of COVID-19
• The event should be held preferably in open space, or in a well-ventilated hall
• The event, if held in closed place/indoor, should be limited to half the sitting capacity or 100 people, whichever is less
• If held in open space, the invitees should be staggered or limited so as to allow adequate physical distancing at the venue
• The invitation to a wedding ceremony and reception may be staggered to avoid crowding
• The wedding ceremony and reception invitations should indicate the time slot for the respective invitees
• COVID-19 safety precautions with regard to mandatory wearing of a mask and maintaining physical distance at the venue should be printed on the invitation card
• Hand washing facility or hand sanitizers should be arranged at the entry/exit. Extra masks should be arranged by organizers for those who may come without a mask
• Use of digital platforms may be optimally used to minimize contact, such as video live streaming, e-card invitation, online account transfer of wedding gift, etc
• People aged 60 years and above, children below 10 years, people with other co-morbid conditions, pregnant women, immuno-compromised persons, and people with symptoms such as fever and/or cough should not attend the wedding or reception
• As far as possible, take-away food packages may be encouraged
• Adequate facilities should be arranged to avoid crowding and ensure physical distancing at the following points: entry and exit points, hand washing points, toilets, gift reception, serving tables, dining tables, etc
• Proper signage/information should be displayed to encourage COVID appropriate behaviour.
• Adequate social distancing measures should be put in place through the use of chalk marks, tape, floor stickers, signs, furniture, etc
• No weddings or social events shall be allowed in the containment zone, and any person from a declared containment zone should refrain from attending such events
• The organisation of the wedding and/or reception should be informed to the local police/ administrative authorities well in advance as notified by the District Task Force
• The District Task Force shall ensure that the arrangements are inspected by a representative of the District Task Force and are found to be satisfactory

During the event

• Volunteers/Stewards should ensure that all guests wear masks and sanitize their hands while entering the venue
• Masks may be handed to those who come without a mask
• Volunteers/stewards should also ensure that the seating arrangement is not changed/moved which may compromise social distancing
• They will monitor that all safety protocols are followed throughout the event
• The windows and doors should be opened for better natural ventilation for events held indoors. Use of ACs should be avoided
• The organizers will be responsible for maintaining the guests/attendees/workers list with contact numbers, which should be made available to the District Task Force representatives if required later on for contact tracing
• The event should be kept as short as possible
• The guests should be encouraged to enter the venue in small batches maintaining an adequate physical distance
• They may assess the situation from outside before entering the venue so that crowding is avoided
• Shaking hands should be avoided and removing of mask for photo session may be avoided as far as possible
• Frequently touched surfaces should he sanitized periodically with 1% Sodium Hypochlorite solution. Surfaces susceptible to corrosion should be sanitized with 70% alcohol disinfectant
• Volunteers and workers at the gift reception counter and serving tables should also wear gloves and maintain strict hygiene along with gloves
• Spitting is prohibited in public places and the same should be ensured
• Wastes should be disposed of safely using gloves and disinfectants
• Prolonged socializing or leisurely gathering after the event or post-marriage celebration/partying should be strictly avoided

Nagaland, in the last five days, has reported 710 new COVID-19 infections and two deaths.

As of November 19, the COVID-19 tally in Nagaland stands at 10,460 out of 1,07,276 samples that have been tested. The death toll in the pandemic is 48.