Amid worrying surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the city, the Chandigarh Administration on Monday lifted night curfew and also allowed restaurants and hotels to serve liquor.
The move comes after the Central Government prohibited lockdowns outside containment zones without its permission as part of unlock 4.0 guidelines. The night curfew was in force from 10 pm to 5 am in the city. The Administration had earlier not lifted the night curfew after unlock 3.0 guidelines of the Central Government in August.
During the war room meeting held under Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on Monday, the Administration decided to follow the unlock 4.0 guidelines of the Central Government. However, the odd-even system imposed in 12 congested markets and weekend closure of the city's prime tourist spot-Sukhna Lake will continue till further orders.
“In line with the Central Government’s order, the UT Administration has lifted the night curfew in the city. As per Government of India’s order, the restrictions will continue in containment zones,” said Manoj Parida, Adviser to UT Administrator while talking to The Pioneer. He said that the order on weekend closure of Sukhna Lake and the odd-even system in congested markets will continue till September 3 and a final call to withdraw the restrictions will be taken on Wednesday by the Administrator
The orders received from Central Government regarding Unlock 4 have been circulated for information and strict compliance by all concerned, he added.
The only activities expressly prohibited under the new guidelines are opening of cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres (excluding open air theatres) and similar places with a high risk of spread of the virus.
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HAILS DECISION
With night curfew being lifted in Chandigarh and restaurants and hotels allowed to serve liquor, the Hospitality Industry has heaved a sigh of relief. The night curfew and restrictions on serving liquor was a major setback for the hospitality industry which is witnessing low footfall. The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled the hospitality sector with the scale of revenue and job losses exponentially higher during the first eight months of the year.
The UT Excise and Taxation Department will start the process to issue licenses and permits to hotels and restaurants to open bars for serving liquor from September 1. With the restrictions being lifted on Monday, the hospitality sector is now hopeful that the situation will start improving in the coming weeks, especially over the weekends.
Ankit Gupta, President Chandigarh Hospitality Association said the decision will help in reviving the hospitality sector facing losses during COVID-19 pandemic.
191 FRESH CASES IN CHANDIGARH
While the UT Administration has lifted most of the restrictions put in place to stem the spread of COVID-19, the pandemic continues to rage in the city. With 191 fresh COVID-19 cases reported on Monday, the total cases jumped to 4346 which includes 1857 active cases.
Chandigarh has reported 6.1 percent average growth rate of infections, the highest in the country. A huge number of 3298 positive cases have been reported in the city in the month of August.