Festivity returns amid relaxed restrictions

Home dept eases restraints; notification officially extends business hours

KARACHI:

With the recent relaxation of Covid-19-related restrictions, parks and other places of entertainment are slowly coming back to life and no longer resemble ghost towns.

Families, which have been cooped at home for the last many months, are taking full advantage of the opportunity to unwind and are reaching these facilities in large numbers. At the same time, the Sindh Home Department has issued a new order on standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to control novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Saturday. According to its latest notification, business hours across the province have been extended till 10pm. The new restrictions will be effective till July 31.

Indoor dining in hotels and restaurants will be permitted till midnight. Vaccinated patrons of eateries will be able to dine indoors as long as the spaces are not more than 50% full. Home delivery and takeaway services, meanwhile, can remain operational 24/7 if the restaurant(s) wish to provide the service.

Outdoor events at the wedding halls can be held with up to 400 guests in attendance. Moreover, permission to open cinema and theatres has been granted till 1am. Cinema hall and theatre owners will be restricted to allow only specific persons who are holding coronavirus vaccine certificates.

Shrines, in compliance with the coronavirus SOPs, will remain open across the province. Amusement parks, indoor gyms and water parks will remain open for vaccinated persons. However, restrictions on contact sports such as water polo, boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and kabaddi will remain effective.

The provincial government has given permission to reopen polo, golf, and horse riding clubs, allowing patrons to enjoy their favourite sport after a hiatus. Meanwhile, public transport will be allowed to carry passengers with a capacity of up to 70%. Moreover, the private and public offices have been permitted to operate with 100% attendance, but they will be mandated to comply with coronavirus SOPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2021.