Haryana Government on Sunday extended the lockdown clamped in the state by another week till June 14, while easing several restrictions that were in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The government has permitted reopening of restaurants, malls and bars with restrictions. While restaurants and bars can function from 10 am to 8 pm with 50 percent seating capacity, home delivery will be permitted till 10 pm.

The government has also allowed reopening of religious places with 21 people at a time. The State Government has termed the lockdown "Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana (Epidemic Alert-Safe Haryana)".

"Now, after duly considering the fact that although the Covid positivity rate and the number of new Covid positive cases have declined, so as to continue the preventive and precautionary measures to contain the Covid pandemic, the government has decided to extend the 'Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana' from June 7 (5 am onwards) to June 14 (till 5 am) in the state of Haryana," an order issued by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan stated.

According to the order, “Shops other than standalone shops are allowed to open from 9 am to 6 pm in two groups, namely odd and even- shops with odd numbers on odd dates and shops with even numbers on even dates. Malls are allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm. The restaurants and bars (including in hotels and in malls) are allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm with 50 per cent of the seating capacity and adopting requisite social distancing norms, regular sanitisation and COVID-19 appropriate behavioural norms. Home delivery from hotels, restaurants and fast food joints is permitted until 10 pm.”

Corporate offices have also been permitted to open with 50 per cent attendance.

Religious places are allowed to open with 21 persons at one time with the condition that they follow COVID-19 appropriate behavioural norms, the order stated.

The gatherings in weddings, funerals are allowed upto 21 persons. Weddings can take place at places other than home and courts but no movement of 'Barat' procession will be allowed, it stated.

For gatherings other than weddings or funerals, the maximum number allowed will be 50 and prior permission from the deputy commissioner would be required.

Apart from this, the club houses, restaurants or bars of the golf courses have also been allowed to open with 50 per cent seating capacity from 10 pm to 8pm and the visitors shall be allowed to play in golf courses by the management.

Notably, Haryana Government had imposed the lockdown in the state on May 3 in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation.