During COVID preparedness review meeting via video conferencing on Thursday, the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced strict lockdown on weekends and holidays.
Detailed guidelines on the same are spelled out on Friday.
• Shops: Shops dealing in essential commodities/services will remain open on all seven days till 7 pm. But, other shops dealing in non-essentials, standalone and in shopping malls, will remain closed on Sundays. On Saturdays, these shops can open till 5 pm.
The orders have given the discretion to the District Megistrates on taking a final call on Sunday closure. They, in consultation with market associations, can choose to order closure of the non-essential shops on any other day of the week also, especially in the high-risk areas where the cases are high.
• Restaurants – for take home/home delivery only – and liquor shops will continue to be open till 8 pm on all seven days of the week.
• E-pass: Inter-district movement shall be allowed against e-pass, which will be issued only for essential work, but no pass shall be required for such travel in case of medical emergency.
Further, e-pass will also be required for marriage functions, and will be issued only for 50 specific persons, it added.
• Mandatory wearing of face masks and adhere to social distancing.
Stringent Compliance with all the Restrictions
The CM expressed serious concern over rising number of COVID-19 cases with people having Delhi travel history or contacts of such people.
He assured that situation in the state is relatively in control, his government was not ready to take any chances.
Guidelines are in addition to those mentioned in Lockdown 5.0/Unlock 1.0 and will remain in force on weekends and gazette holidays till further orders.
Source: The Tribune