With the state’s Covid-positivity rate coming down to 2%, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced easing of the restrictions, allowing restaurants and other eating joints, as well as cinemas and gyms to open at 50% capacity beginning Wednesday. He also announced an increase in gathering of people, including for weddings and cremations, to 50 people.
Under the new guidelines, which will remain in effect till 25 June when they will be again reviewed, daily night curfew will be in place from 8 pm to 5 am, with weekend curfew from 8.00 pm on Saturday up to 5.00 am on Monday, across the state. However, all essential activities, including those covered under existing ‘exemptions’, will remain unaffected, unhindered and exempted from curfew restrictions.
Chairing a high-level virtual Covid review meeting, the Chief Minister ordered opening of all restaurants (including in hotels), cafes, coffee shops, fast food outlets, dhabas, cinema halls, gyms at maximum 50% of capacity, subject to all their employees having received at least one dose of vaccination. AC buses can also ply with 50% occupancy.
Bars, pubs and ‘ahatas’ shall, however, continue to remain closed. All educational institutions, i.e. schools and colleges, will also continue to be closed.
District authorities have been asked to determine opening timings of non-essential shops, including on Sunday, on the basis of the local situation, while ensuring that crowds are avoided. District authorities shall also continue to ensure strict implementation of all the extant directives of MHA/state government on Covid-appropriate behaviour, including social/physical distancing, wearing of face masks etc, directed the Chief Minister.