PANAJI
The State Election Commisiion (SEC) issued a fresh set of SOPs for the ZP polls with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic mandating virus positive voters to adorn PPE kits while casting their vote.
Earlier, the SEC had said the last polling hour would be exclusively reserved for Covid-19 positive persons. Now, they will be provided with PPE kits by BLOs at the polling booths.
Currently, as many as 1,277 active Covid patients are recorded who are mostly recuperating in home isolation.
Meanwhile, other general SOPs including thermal screening, wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing with spots marked for voter queues will be in force for all. Hand sanitizers will also be stocked at all booths, the SEC said.
The new SOPs also said those found with high fever during thermal screening will be asked to vote in the last hour.
The SEC also notified on Wednesday 15 locales for setting up counting centres, nine in South Goa and six in North Goa. Counting is slated for December 14 from 8 am and is expected to be a prolonged exercise since voting is through ballot papers and not EVMs.
Public holiday on polling day
PANAJI: Saturday (December 12), the polling day for the Zilla panchayat elections has been declared a 'paid holiday' for commercial and industrial workers of all government and private organisations, including daily wage and casual workers.
Registered voters who work outside jurisdictions of polling areas will also get the paid holiday benefit.
No liquor sale on election & counting days
PANAJI: All licensed premises 'for the sale of liquor' located within the Zilla Panchayat constituencies of North and South Goa Districts, have been ordered to remain closed from midnight of December 11 to midnight of December 12 during the day of polling and from midnight of December 13 upto midnight of December 14 being the day of counting of votes within the jurisdiction of the local body where counting is taking place.
However, the licensed premises having licence for ‘Bar and Restaurant’ have been allowed to keep the restaurant open for serving food only.
