Haryana Government on Sunday extended the lockdown clamped in the state to curb the spread of Covid-19 by another week till July 19, while announcing to open educational institutions and further relaxing the gatherings rules.
According to the order issued by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan, “the Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana is extended for another week, that is from July 12 (5 am onwards) to July 19 (till 5 am) in the state of Haryana.”
The State Government has termed the Covid-induced lockdown as "Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana (Epidemic Alert-Safe Haryana)".
The order said, “Gatherings in weddings, funerals, cremations are allowed upto 100 persons subject to strict observance of COVID-19 appropraite behavioral norms and social distancing. In open spaces, gatherings will be allowed upto 200 persons."
Spas, swimming pools, cinema halls have also been allowed to open in the state.
Universities and Colleges are allowed to open for students for doubt classes, practical classes in laboratories, practical examinations and offline examinations. Hostels are also allowed to open only for those students who are appearing in examinations. Open training institutes under Haryana Skill Development Mission and Industrial Training Institutions are also allowed to open. Coaching institutions, libraries and Training institutions are also allowed to open as per the SOPs released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, according to the State Government's order.
Apart from this, the Vice Chancellor, National Law University, Delhi is allowed to hold Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), 2021 on July 23 in the state.
The order further said, “Spas are allowed to open from 6 am to 8 pm with 50 percent capacity, swimming pools are allowed to open only for such athletes or swimmers who are competing or practicing for a competitive event. Cinema halls are allowed to open with maximum 50 percent seating capacity with adherence to COVID-19 protocol.
According to earlier relaxations, all shops are allowed to open from 9 am to 8 pm, malls are allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm, restaurants and bars, including those in hotels and malls, are allowed to open from 10 am to 10 pm with 50 per cent seating capacity in the state.
Notably, Haryana Government had imposed the lockdown in the state on May 3.