5-day week, 50% attendance in Himachal govt offices

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 9

With the Covid situation turning grim, all government offices will now have a five-day working with 50 per cent attendance while a gathering of not more than 100 persons indoors and 300 outdoors will be allowed.

The new restrictions came in view of the fact that the state recorded 728 cases yesterday even though the casualty figures remained low. The new restrictions will come into force with immediate effect as per the orders issued by the Disaster Management Cell of the Revenue Department.

The government last night ordered the closure of all educational institutions, including residential schools, till January 26 in view of a surge in Covid cases. The active cases is almost touching 3,000. All nursing and medical colleges have been allowed to remain open but with strict Covid protocol.

All offices will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The restrictions will not apply to departments dealing with emergency services like health, police, banks, water, electricity, fire, public transport and telecom.

A complete ban has also been imposed on holding of langars and community feasts at places of worship. The district administration have been directed to fix the timings for opening and closing of shops and markets or staggering their schedule so that social-distancing norms are met.

The police and local administration have been directed to ensure strict adherence to the norms.

Ban on langars at religious places

• A complete ban has also been imposed on langars and community feasts at places of worship
• The district administrations have been directed to fix the timings for opening and closing of shops and markets

498 new cases

As many as 498 new cases were reported in the state. Besides, one person died of Covid in Sirmaur district.