India: Authorities imposing strict COVID-19 restrictions in Arunachal Pradesh and seven districts in greater Imphal area, Manipur, as of May 10 /update 22

Event

Authorities in northeastern Indian states continue to adjust COVID-19 controls as of May 10. Arunachal Pradesh has imposed a ban on all nonessential activity in Itanagar Capital Complex District 05:00 May 10-05:00 May 17. Manipur placed a 24-hour curfew on seven districts in the greater Imphal area, including Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur, and Ukhrul, through at least May 17; a 19:00-05:00 nightly curfew remains in effect for other districts statewide. Meghalaya is also banning nonessential activity in East Khasi Hills District, which includes the state capital, Shillong, until at least 05:00 May 17. Separately, Mizoram extended its ban on nonessential activities in state capital Aizawl and 10 other district headquarters through at least 04:00 May 17.

Curfews and limits on nonessential activity are active in all northeastern states. Authorities prohibit nonessential activity during curfews; cargo transit, permitted industries, workplaces requiring night operations, limited transport services, and deliveries are typically unaffected. The strictest curbs on nonessential activity will continue in containment zones with a significant number of COVID-19 cases through at least May 31. Movement from containment zones remains restricted to select transit points and essential purposes. All public and nonessential private transport remain banned. Businesses - mainly those providing essential services - may operate with minimal employee numbers. Residents must stay home and use delivery services to the extent possible.

Most educational, recreational, sports, and tourist sites are closed, with regional variations. Local authorities may modify regulations at short notice depending on COVID-19 activity. Entrants must typically quarantine at home or a designated facility for up to 14 days based on medical assessment; local authorities are largely exempting asymptomatic domestic passengers and short-term visitors. As of May 10, the following measures are in effect:
 

• Arunachal Pradesh: Authorities have imposed a ban on nonessential activity in Itanagar Capital Complex District 05:00 May 10-05:00 May 17. A modified 18:30-05:00 nightly curfew is in place through May 31. All dine-in eateries and commercial establishments must close by 16:00; food takeaway services can operate until 18:30. The government has also banned all nonessential gatherings. Residents must wear facemasks in public. Authorities have suspended the issuance of Inner Line Permits (ILPs) for entering protected areas or states. Essential services such as pharmacies and hospitals may continue to operate. Government and essential workers are exempt from movement restrictions and curfews. Public transport services including inter-district and inter-state buses may operate at 50-percent capacity. Authorities allow entry into the state 08:00-20:00 daily; incoming travelers must undergo rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 at the point of entry unless exiting the state within eight hours. Asymptomatic passengers with negative test results are exempt from quarantine; however, district authorities may mandate quarantine until results of additional on-arrival testing. Those with symptoms or positive test results will undergo additional testing and home or institutional quarantine for 14 days.
• Assam: Strict curbs on nonessential activity are underway in parts of Guwahati city and other containment areas. A modified overnight curfew is active statewide 18:00-05:00 until further notice. Authorities require all dine-in eateries, commercial establishments, and offices to close by 14:00; food takeaway services can operate until 18:00, while home delivery of all products may function without time limits. Offices and public transport services may only operate at 50-percent capacity. Residents must wear facemasks in public, including when traveling alone on public and private vehicles; violators will face fines. All entrants arriving via any route must undergo on-arrival tests for COVID-19 at the point of entry. Inbound travelers who have obtained a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test within 72 hours before departure are exempt, except if flying from Bengaluru and Mumbai cities or traveling via rail from Karnataka and Maharashtra states. Arrivals must quarantine at home for seven days, regardless of test results; those traveling for emergency purposes are exempt from quarantine.
• Manipur: Authorities have imposed additional restrictions across the greater Imphal area, which consists of Imphal East and Imphal West districts, through at least May 17. A 24-hour curfew is in place in seven districts including Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur and Ukhrul; a 19:00-05:00 nightly curfew remains in effect for other districts statewide. All nonessential activity remains banned; essential shops may open 06:00-10:00 daily. All other establishments must remain closed while residents must stay home unless seeking or providing emergency and essential services. Essential services, including media personnel, are exempted from the curfew. Authorities are also banning all nonessential gatherings. All entrants must register online beforehand and carry negative results of an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 taken within 72 hours before arrival. Authorities may advise additional on-arrival testing, as well as home or institutional quarantine for passengers, based on medical assessments and designation of high-risk locations.
• Meghalaya: Authorities are banning nonessential activity in East Khasi Hills District, which includes the state capital, Shillong, until at least 05:00 May 17. Limits on nonessential activity will apply statewide on weekends from 22:00 Friday to 05:00 Monday. Essential vehicular movement, non-food delivery services for essential items, permitted gatherings, and cargo transit are unaffected. Most offices, as well as banking and postal services, are closed. Government offices may only operate at 50-percent capacity. Residents must stay home during curfew hours. Enhanced curbs on operating hours of essential businesses and vehicular movement are also underway in containment areas like Jowai and Turai. A 22:00-05:00 overnight curfew is in place across West Khasi Hills District through May 15. Ongoing statewide measures limit the opening of retail centers like markets, ban most gatherings, and mandate the closure of recreational and sports facilities. Residents must obtain movement passes online to exit homes in containment areas or during curfew hours, as well as to undertake inter-district or interstate travel. Authorities have barred tourists from entering the state; returnees and permitted arrivals like essential workers may typically enter before 20:00. Most government and private offices and eateries must operate at a maximum of 50-percent capacity. The odd-even rule for personal vehicles continues statewide; public and commercial vehicles are exempt. Typically, affected vehicles with even registration numbers may only drive on even days and vice versa; local authorities may issue varied guidelines. All entrants to the state must register beforehand on the Meghalaya government website and download mobile applications named Aarogya Setu and Behavioral Change Management. All asymptomatic entrants with proof of vaccination and those holding negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test obtained 72 hours before arrival are exempt from testing and quarantine. Others must undergo self-paid on-arrival testing and quarantine until results arrive. Arrivals with symptoms or positive test results will quarantine for 10 days at home or an institution, based on their medical assessment.
• Mizoram: Authorities are banning nonessential activity in state capital Aizawl and 10 other district headquarters through at least 04:00 May 17; 19:00-04:00 nightly curfews will be in place. Inter-state borders remain open; entrants must register on the Mizoram government portal and undergo on-arrival rapid antigen testing. Asymptomatic passengers must quarantine at home for at least 10 days if the result of an on-arrival rapid antigen COVID-19 test is negative. Travelers with negative RT-PCR or TrueNat test results taken within 96 hours before departure, as well as locals who have been out of the state for less than four days, are exempt from quarantine.
• Nagaland: Urban areas of Dimapur and Kohima districts remain containment zones; officials have suspended all nonessential activity and movement through at least May 12. Public transport and private-hire vehicles will operate with limited passenger capacity. Odd-even rules will apply to private vehicles; vehicles with odd registration numbers are allowed on odd days and vice versa. Most essential businesses will function 06:00-14:00; fuel stations will operate without time limits. Overnight curfews are also active across Dimapur District 20:00-05:00 and Tuensang District 19:00-05:00 until further notice. Entrants must register on the Nagaland government portal beforehand and carry negative results of an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arrival. They must also download the Aarogya Setu and nCOVID Nagaland Visitors mobile applications. Those entering without test results must quarantine for 10 days; those leaving the state within 48 hours, people who have stayed outside the state for less than 24 hours, and cargo drivers transiting through the state without stops are exempt from quarantine. Entrants from 11 high-risk regions - Delhi and Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh states - are subject to enhanced screening.
• Sikkim: Strict curbs are in place through May 16. Curfews continue 17:00-09:00 daily; all nonessential vehicular and personnel movement is banned. Commercial establishments may operate 10:00-16:00 on weekdays but must remain closed on weekends. Officials are also suspending inter-state and inter-district passenger travel. Essential workers and freight transporters on one-day trips are exempt from the curbs. Authorities require authorized arrivals on essential trips to obtain a negative RT-PCR test within 48 hours of entry. Entrants may also be subject to a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) upon arrival. Symptomatic arrivals and those with positive test results must quarantine for 14 days.
• Tripura: An 18:00-05:00 daily curfew is active across the capital city of Agartala and all other urban areas until further notice. All entrants arriving via any route must undergo on-arrival tests for COVID-19 at the point of entry. Inbound travelers who have obtained a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure are exempt. Arrivals must quarantine at home until test results arrive. Officials may mandate additional testing and quarantine for individuals with symptoms or positive test results.

Advice

Follow national health and safety measures. Reconfirm business appointments, deliveries, work, and travel arrangements. Do not check out of accommodation without confirming onward travel. Monitor official sources for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Ensure access to essential items. Carry proper identification documents during travel.

Resources

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Help Page
Mizoram State COVID-19 Portal
Nagaland State Department of Health and Family Welfare
Sikkim State Government COVID-19 Portal
World Health Organization (WHO)