As cases dip, Chandigarh decides to open up
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 24
In view of a substantial reduction in the number of Covid-19 cases, loss of livelihood of daily wagers and disruption in economic activities, the UT Administration has decided to allow a few relaxations in the restrictions imposed on May 4 for curbing the spread of Covid.
During a review meeting chaired by UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, it was decided to allow all shops to open from 9 am to 3 pm from tomorrow, subject to strict observation of the Covid protocol. All shops will be sanitised. All customers entering the shops and all persons attending to them should wear a mask. The market associations concerned will have to ensure the availability of masks at shops and at the market entry points.
What’s open
All shops to remain open from 9 am to 3 pm
Sampark centres will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm
What’s closed
All shopping malls, cinema halls, theatres, museums, gymnasiums, libraries, spa, salons, Sukhna Lake and Rock Garden.
Sports complexes will remain closed. However, special permission can be given to athletes preparing for the Olympics and the National Games.
Weekend, night curfew to continue
The night curfew will continue from 6 pm to 5 am. The weekend curfew from 6 pm on May 28 to 5 am on May 31 will continue. Essential shops will be allowed to open.
However, all shopping malls, cinema halls, theatres, museums, gymnasiums, libraries, spas, salons, Sukhna Lake and Rock Garden will continue to remain closed.
Restaurants, hotels, cafés, coffee shops and eating joints are allowed to function only for home delivery. However, no seating arrangements will be allowed inside the premises. Orders for home delivery are allowed till 10 pm and takeaways are allowed till 5 pm.
To prevent parties and gatherings, the night curfew from 6 pm to 5 am will continue. Similarly, the weekend curfew from 6 pm on Friday (May 28) to 5 am on Monday (May 31) will also continue. During the weekend curfew, only essential shops will be allowed to remain open.
The Sampark Centres will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm.
As far as possible, private sector employees should work from home. No action will be taken against private offices remaining open, wherever necessary.
Sports complexes will remain closed. However, special permission can be given by the Secretary, Sports, to athletes preparing for the Olympics and the National Games.
The Administrator also decided that the demand of the trade and industry for exemption of rent in government-owned/allotted shops would be looked into, along with the demand for relaxation in electricity, water charges and property tax.
Badnore expressed concern over the number of fatalities due to Covid. He directed the Secretary, Social Welfare, that children who had been orphaned due to Covid must be looked after at government welfare homes and the cost for it should be borne by the UT Administration.
The Administrator stated that restrictions would be reviewed and re-imposed if the Covid situation did not improve in the city.
He expressed satisfaction over vaccination camps organised for mentally challenged patients in Sector 15 and persons under treatment at the Spinal Rehabilitation Centre, Sector 28-A.
‘Chemist shops can operate 24×7’
The UT Administration has clarified that salons, barber shops, spa and malls will continue to remain closed and non-essential shops such as auto service centres are allowed to open till 3 pm only. “All essential shops such as groceries can remain open till 5pm. Chemist shops can operate 24×7 during the Covid pandemic,” said UT Adviser Manoj Parida.
Home delivery up to 10 pm, takeaways 5 pm
Restaurants, hotels, cafés, coffee shops and eating joints to function only for home delivery orders. No dine-in is allowed, but home delivery is allowed till 10 pm and takeaways till 5 pm.
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