Punjab lifts Saturday curfew, Sunday restrictions remain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9

Aiming to provide more relaxation in the urban areas during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Punjab government, on the directions of the Chief Minister, has announced that curfew would remain imposed only on all Sundays in all the 167 municipal towns of the state up to September 30 and no curfew to be imposed on Saturdays.

Stating this here today, a spokesperson of the Punjab government said movement of individuals for all non-essential activities would remain prohibited between 9.30 pm to 5 am within municipal limits of all the cities of Punjab throughout the week.

However, essential activities and services such as movement of persons and goods on national and state highways, inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and unloading of cargo and travel of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and aeroplanes would be permitted.

He added that essential services related to health, agriculture and linked activities, dairying and fishery activities, banks, ATMs, stock markets, insurance companies, online teaching, public utilities, public transport, industry in multiple-shifts, construction industry, offices both private and government  etc. would also be permitted.

Moreover, he added that health care institutions viz. hospitals, labs, diagnostic centre and chemist shops were allowed to operate on all 7 days of the week throughout the day i.e. would remain open 24×7 hours.

Besides, movement of persons and students in connection with all kinds of examinations, admission/entrance tests conducted by universities, boards, public service commissions and other institutions would also be permitted.

Giving details of the weekend and night restrictions, the spokesperson said shops, malls, except those dealing in essential commodities, would be allowed to remain open till 9 pm from Monday to Saturday but would be closed in all cities on Sunday. Shops and malls dealing in essentials would be open even on the weekend, till 9 pm.

In addition, he said religious places have also been allowed to stay open on all days up to 9 pm, as have been restaurants (including those in malls, Hotels) and liquor vends.

The existing restrictions on passengers in vehicles would also continue to remain in force, with only three persons, including driver, to be allowed in a 4-wheeler vehicle, and all buses and public transport vehicles to allow sitting for only half (50%) capacity with no person standing.

Furthermore, he added that the government and private offices shall operate with 50% staff strength till the end of the month i.e. not more than 50% of employees would be permitted on a particular day.

He stated that Section 144 of the CrPC banning all social, political, religious gatherings, protests, and demonstrations will continue to remain in force throughout the State, while gatherings relating to marriage and funerals shall be allowed only for 30 persons and 20 persons, respectively.