Punjab eases Covid curbs; gyms, restaurants, cinemas to open

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 15

Punjab government allowed cinemas, gyms and dine-in services in restaurants to open, easing restrictions imposed since April to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The development comes as positivity rate falls to 2 per cent.

A new order issued by Punjab Government said cinemas and gyms could open at 50 per cent of its capacity provided they strictly adhered to Covid-19 protocols. Dine in services would resume in restaurants, cafes and other eating establishments at 50 per cent seating capacity. Bars and pubs however will remain closed.

Eating houses, gyms and cinemas must ensure that all their employees have had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccines.

Gatherings for weddings and funerals can now have up to 50 people.

Night curfews will continue from 8 pm to 5 am, and weekend curfews from 8 pm on Saturday to 5 am on Monday.

Essential and emergency services are exempted from curfew restrictions.

AC bus services could also resume at 50 per cent occupation.

All educational institutions will remain closed.

What’s allowed

—Gyms, cinemas, restaurants, eating joints

—AC buses

—Essential and emergencies services

—Gatherings such as weddings with up to 50 guests

What’s not

—Bars, pubs and ‘Ahatas’

—Educational insititutions

Night curfew hours: 8 pm to 5 am

Weekend curfew: Saturday 8 pm to Monday 5 am 

Exemptions to curfew rules

—Hospitals, veterinary hospitals and all establishments, both in public and private sector, related to manufacture and supply of all medicines and medical equipment. Including the manufacturing & distribution units such as dispensaries, chemist & pharmacy, laboratories, pharmaceutical research labs, clinics, nursing homes, ambulances etc

—Shops dealing with supply of essential goods, milk, dairy and poultry products like bread, eggs, meat etc and vegetables, fruits etc.

—Shops/establishments selling industrial materials including raw materials, intermediaries as well as shops/establishments engaged in export and import activities

—Activities /establishments related to fisheries such as fish, meat and its products including supply of fish seeds

—Movement of passengers travelling by air, trains and buses on production of travel documents

—Inter and intra state movement of all vehicles/persons carrying essential and non-essential goods

—Delivery of all essential goods through e-commerce

—Construction activities in both urban and rural areas

—Agricultural including procurement, horticultural, animal husbandry and veterinary services

—Vaccinations outreach camps

—Telecommunication, internet services, broadcasting and cable services. IT and IT enabled services.

—Petrol pumps and petroleum products, LPG, petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets, coal, firewood and other fuels

—Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services

—Cold storage and warehousing services

—Private security services

—Farming operations by farmers and farm workers in the field

—All Banking/RBI services, ATMs, Cash Vans and cash handling/ distribution services