Wedding halls reopen under strict SOPs in K-P

The provincial government on Wednesday allowed marriage halls and marquees in the province to reopen, provided that they strictly follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined to prevent the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic from spreading.

In a statement issued by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Home and Tribal Affairs Department secretary on Wednesday, it said that wedding halls and marquees can resume their business.

The statement said wedding halls will operate at 50 per cent of their capacity. Moreover, spacious seating arrangements should be made, ensuring maximum social distancing between guests. Furthermore, it directed that the staff of these halls will have to get tested for the virus before resuming duties.

It further read that rush at entrance and exit gates of wedding halls should be avoided, with the wedding hall administration told to arrange thermal guns for screening each guest.

All halls have been required to be properly sanitised before the start of each event while the duration of each function will also be limited to just two hours, it added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2020.