Keeping in view the spurt in Covid-19 positive cases, the District Collector announced on Saturday that all shops in Raipur district will shut at 6 pm, instead of the earlier 8 pm. They can open at 6 am.
This follows the imposition of prohibitory orders in all urban areas of Raipur district amid a renewed spread of the coronavirus.
A similar order has been issued by the Rajnandgaon administration.
According to an order from Raipur Collector Dr S. Bharati Dasan, all permanent and temporary shops, shopping malls, departmental stores, business centres and street vendors will open from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm.
A two-hour extension has been given till 8.00 pm to restaurants, hotels, bars, roadside eateries, take-away and home delivery.
The order does not apply to petrol pumps and medical stores. All the weekly markets in urban areas will remain shut, an official communication said.
The Chaupati, food drinks and street vending near the Telibandha, Swami Vivekananda Sarovar and other key places, near gardens and routes will close at 6.00 pm. All the country made and Indian Made Foreign Liquor shops in the district will shut at 6.00 pm.
Cinemas and multiplexes will have to end the show by 8.00 pm.
The order has made it mandatory for all traders, employees and customers to wear the mask. Every shop should keep masks for sale. The visitors have to be provided sanitizer.
In Rajnandgaon, Collector T.K. Verma after meeting public representatives and traders has ordered shops to open from 6.00 am to 4.00 pm. Milk parlours can close at 8.00 pm.