Even as Covid-19 cases and related deaths continue to register an upward swing, the Punjab Government virtually opened its borders for residents of other states by removing inter-state travel restrictions. The State also relaxed restrictions on the timings of opening of shops and night curfew, besides doing away with the “weekend lockdown”.
Issuing the guidelines for phased reopening for ‘Unlock 2’ from July 1 to 30, the State Government has given one hour relaxation for the opening of all shops, liquor vends, salons, barber shops, restaurants, religious places, and also in the night curfew which would be from 10 pm to 5 am. As per the new guidelines, under which the Government has decided to reopen more activities in a calibrated manner in areas outside the containment zones, the shops, other than those dealing with essential commodities, will remain close on Sunday only.Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions would remain closed till July 31, 2020, while the online or distance learning would continue to be permitted and encouraged.
However, training institutions of the Central and State Governments would be allowed to function from July 15 for which standard operating procedures (SOP) would be issued by the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Spokesperson said that under these detailed guidelines, the State Government has allowed the district authorities to impose such restrictions as deemed necessary in areas outside the containment zones.
However, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries; and no separate permission, approval, or e-permit will be required for such movements.
As per the guidelines, the cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places would continue to remain close. “International air travel of passengers would also be prohibited, except as permitted by MHA. Apart from this, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations would also remain prohibited,” said the spokesperson adding that all other activities shall be permitted in areas outside containment zones.
Spokesperson said that lockdown shall continue to remain in force in containment zones till July 31, 2020, and such zones would be demarcated by the district authorities as per the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).Only essential activities shall be permitted in the containment zones, said the spokesperson adding that the district authorities may accordingly take requisite action in containment and buffer zones as per guidelines of MoHFW, and the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department.
“The movement of individuals for all non-essential activities would remain prohibited between 10 pm to 5 am throughout the State.
However, essential activities including operation of multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on national and state highways and unloading of cargo and travel of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and aeroplanes would be permitted,” said the spokesperson.
As per the guidelines, the district authorities have been accordingly directed to issue prohibitory orders under sections 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and ensure strict compliance.Besides, the movement by passenger trains and Shramik special trains, domestic air travel, movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country and of specified persons to travel abroad, evacuation of foreign nationals and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued.Persons above 65 years of age, with co-morbidity, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home except for essential requirements and for health purposes, as per the guidelines.
Spokesperson said that number of guests should not exceed 50 in marriage related gatherings and 20 in funeral or last rites.Spitting in public places is completely prohibited and punishable with fine, while consumption of liquor, pan, gutka, tobacco etc in public places is also prohibited, but there will be no restriction on their sale.
“Places of worship or religious places shall remain open only between 5 am to 8 pm. The maximum number of persons at the time of worship shall not exceed 20 with due distancing and therefore, the worship time should be staggered accordingly,” said the spokesperson with the directions to the managements of these places to make adequate arrangements to ensure hand hygiene, social distancing and wearing of masks, besides allowing langar and prasad.
Giving one hour more relaxations in timings, restaurants were allowed to open till 9 pm with 50 percent occupancy or 50 guests, whichever is less. Liquor can be served provided the restaurant has a valid permission from the Excise Department, however, bars shall remain closed.Restaurants in hotels were also allowed to serve food, including buffet meals, up to 50 percent of their seating capacity or 50 guests, whichever is less.
These restaurants would also be open to persons other than hotel guests but the timings, for both the hotel guests as well as persons from outside would be till 9 pm. “Night curfew shall strictly be enforced and movement of individuals shall only be permissible from 5 am to 10 pm. The guests would be allowed to enter and leave the hotel premises between 10 pm to 5 am based on their schedule of travel by flight or train. The air or train ticket and hotel booking would serve as a curfew pass for one-time movement of these guests to and from the hotel during the curfew hours from 10 pm to 5 am,” said the spokesperson.As per the guidelines, all shopping malls and shops including shops in main bazaars in both urban and rural areas allowed to open between 7 am to 8 pm. Liquor vends shall, however, remain open from 8 am to 9 pm.
However, for shops situated in main bazars, market complexes and rehri markets and other crowed places, district authorities could exercise their discretion and in order to avoid crowding shall stagger the opening of shops.Barber shops, hair-cut saloons, beauty parlours and spas would be allowed from 7 am to 8 pm subject to compliance of the SOPs as issued by the Punjab Health Department.
Shops dealing with essential commodities would be allowed to remain open till 8 pm on all days, while the restaurants and liquor vends would continue to remain open till 9 pm on all days.
On Sundays, shops (other than those dealing in essential commodities) and shopping malls shall remain closed.Industries and industrial establishments, construction activities etc were being allowed, and no separate permission would be required by industries and other establishments for their operations. All employees would be allowed without any requirement of pass during the permitted hour.
At the same time, inter-state and intra-state movement of buses would be allowed without any restriction and transport vehicles could utilize the entire seating capacity. “There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods and no separate permission, approval or permit would be required for such movement. Use of COVA app and self-generated pass would be mandatory for inter-state passengers,” said the guidelines.