Punjab govt announces amendments to Covid-19 restrictions

The Punjab government on Tuesday announced amendments to the restrictions earlier announced amid rising coronavirus cases in the province.

According to a notification issued by Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, all agriculture-related establishments and entities are exempted and allowed to operate 24 hours, seven days a week subject to the adoption of Covid-19 SOPs.

All types of indoor dining shall remain banned however, outdoor dining is now permitted till 10pm weekdays only. Takeaways and home delivery are to be allowed too.

Ban on indoor gatherings shall continue to remain in place while outdoor gatherings with the upper limit of 300 people are hereby allowed subject to strict adherence to Covid-19 SOPs.

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The notification added that there shall also be a complete ban on sports, festivals, cultural and other events.

Regarding amusement parks, the department stated that they would remain closed throughout the province. However, walking/jogging tracks shall remain open subject to strict adherence to Covid-19 SOPs.

All commercial activities, establishments and areas shall be closed by 8pm on weekdays and shall remain completely closed on weekends -- Saturday and Sunday (Friday & Saturday in 18 notified districts), the health department added.

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However, some particular activities are allowed on a 24 hours basis and seven days a week. They include all medical services and pharmacies, opticians, bakeries along with general or grocery stores, milk, meat and chicken shops.

Tire puncture shops, fruit, vegetable shops, tandoors, flour mills, postal and courier services are also allowed to operate throughout the day.

Whereas driver hotels, petrol pumps, oil depots, LPG outlets and filling plants, agriculture machinery workshops and spare parts shops shall also remain open.

The printing press, call centres (with 50% staff and no public dealing), takeaway/home delivery from restaurants shall remain open as well.

The provincial health department added that all type of marriage and event halls, community centres and marquees shall remain closed and only outdoor marriage functions in open areas shall be allowed till 10pm subject to the upper limit of 300 guests. Maximum event duration would be for two hours with strict adherence of Covid-19 SOPs.

Inter-city public transport shall operate with 50% of capacity whereas rail service shall operate with 70% of capacity.

The department added that this order and all earlier restrictions and exemptions shall continue to remain in force till April 11.

PHOTO: EXPRESS