Punjab government issues Unlock2 guidelines

June 30, 2020 - PatialaPolitics

Based on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order, Government of Punjab on Tuesday issued the following guidelines which will be followed from July 1 to July 31:

1) Activities prohibited in areas outside Containment Zones

The following activities shall not be permitted:-

(i) Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions ‘will remain closed till 31stJuly 2020. On-line/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.

Training institutions of the Central and State governmet its will be allowed to function from 15thJuly 2020 for which Standar( Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India.

(ii) International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by MHA.

(iii) Metro Rail.

(iv) Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.

(v) Social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions and other large congregations. All other activities shall be permitted in areas outside containment Zones

3. Lockdown limited to Containment Zones

(i) As per para 4 of MHA Order, lockdown shall continue to remain in force in Containment Zones till 31st July 2020.

(ii) Containment Zones are to be demarcated by the District authorities as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health & Familif Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (Gol). Only essential actiirities shall be permitted in the Containment Zones.

(iii) The District authorities may accordingly take requisite action in Containment and Buffer Zones as per guidelines of MoHA, Gol and the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Punjab.

3. Guidelines for areas outside containment zones

In supersession of all the previous guidelines, the guidelines as under, would be applicable in the State during the period 01.07.2020 to 31.07.2020 outside the containment zones.

The list of activities permitted in Punjab in areas outside containment zones is enclosed herewith for ready reference as Ann. -‘1’.

(1) Night curfew (10 pm to 5 am): Movement of individuals for all the non-essential activities shall remain prohibited between 10.00 pm to 5.00 am throughout the State. However, essential activities including operation of multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways and unloading of cargo and travel of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and aemplanes will be permitted.

The district authorities are accordingly directed to issue prohibitory orders u/s 144 of Cr.PC and ensure strict compliance.

(2) Movement of persons with SOPs: Movement by passenger trains and Shramik special trains, domestic air travel, movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country and of specified persons to travel abroad, evacuation of foreign nationals and sign—on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued.

(3) Protection of vulnerable persons: The persons above 65 years of age, persons with co- morbidity, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home except for essential requirements and for health purposes.

(4) Restricted activities: (i) Marriage related gatherings — Number of guests not to exceed 50. (ii) Funeral/last rites — Number of persons not to exceed 20. (iii) Spitting in public places: is completely prohibited and punishable with fine. (iv) Consumption of liquor, pan, gutka, tobacco etc. in public places is prohibited. However, there will be no restriction or their sale

(5) Religious places/places of worship for public: (i) Places of worship/religious places shall remain open only between 5 am to 8 pm. (ii) The maximum number of persons at the time of worship shall not exceed 20 with due distancing and therefore, the worship time should be staggered accordingly. (iii) The managements of these places shall make adequate arrangements to ensure hand hygiene, social distancing and wearing of masks. (iv) Langar and Prasad are allowed. SOP for religious places be followed.

(6) Restaurants: Restaurants are allowed to open till 9 pm with 50% occupancy or 50 guests, whichever is less. Liquor can be served provided the restaurant has a valid permission from the Excise Department. However, bars shall remain closed. The management will comply with the SoP attached herewith.

(7) Hotels and other Hospitality Units: (i) Restaurants in Hotels are allowed to serve food indicting buffet meals up to 50% of their seating capacity or 50 guests, whichever is less. These restaurants would also be open to persons other than hotel guests but the timings, for both the hotel guests as well as persons from outside will be till 9 pm. The bars shall remain closed. However, liquor can be served in the Rooms and Restaurants, as permitted under the Excise policy of the State.

(ii) Night curfew shall strictly be enforced and movement of individuals shall only be permissible from 5 am to 10 pm.

(iii) The guests will be allowed to enter and leave the hotel premises between 10 pm to 5 am based on their schedule of travel by flight/train. The air/train ticket and hotel booking would serve as a curfew pass for one-time movement of thE:se guests to and from the Hotel during the curfew hours (10 pm to 5 am).

(8) Marriages, other Social Functions and ‘Open-Air’ parties:

(i) Marriages, other Social Functions and ‘Open-Air’ Parties in Banquet Halls, Marriage Palaces, Hotels and open venues can be organised upto 50 persons. The number of guest exclusive of catering staff would not exceed 50 persons.

(ii) The size of Banquet Hall and venue for 50 persons shall at least be 5,000 sq. feet based on requirement of 10 x10′ area for a person for the purpose of maintenance of adequate social distancing.

(iii) The Bars shall, continue to remain closed. However liquor can be served in the function as per the Excise Policy of tie State.

(9) Opening of Shops and shopping Malls: All the Shopping Malls and shops including shops in main bazars in both urban and rural areas allowed to open betwween 7.00 am to 8.00 pm. Liquor vends shall however remain open from 8 am to 9 pm.

However, for shops situated in main bazars, market complexes and rehri markets and other crowed places, district authorities can exercise their discretion and in order to avoid crowding shall stagger the opening of shops.

Barber shops, hair-cut saloons, beauty parlours and Spas will be allowed from 7 am to 8 pm subject to compliance of the SOP as issued by the Health Department, Punjab.

Week- end restrictions:

(i) Shops: shops dealing with essential commodities will be allowed to remain open till 8 pm on all days.

(ii) Restaurants and Liquor Vends: will continue to remain open till 9 pm on all days.

(iii) On Sundays, shops (other than those dealing in essential commodities) and shopping malls shall remain closed.

(10) Sports complexes, stadia and public parks: will be al owed to open between 7 am to 8 pm without spectators as per the SOP of the Health Department.

(11) Industries & industrial establishments, Construction Activities etc. allowed.

(12) Movement of Buses and Vehicles: Inter-state and intra-state movement of buses would be allowed without any restriction.

Transport vehicles can utilise the entire seating capacity.

(13) Permits and passes:

(i) No separate permission would be required by the industries and other establishments for their operations. All employees would be allowed without any requirement of pass during the permitted hours as mentioned in the above paravaphs for various establishments.

(ii) There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods and no separate permission/approval/permit will be required for such movement.

(iii) Use of Cova-app and self-generated pass would be mandatory for inter-state passengers

(14) Social distancing and wearing of masks:

Social distancing i.e. minimum 6 feet distance (do gaz ki duri) for all the activities shall always be maintained. Accordingly, if any permitted activity leads to crowding and congestion, then necessary steps in terms of staggering, rotation, timings of offices and establishments etc. betaken and it be ensured that principles of social distancing are not compromised.

Wearing of masks by all persons in public places including work places etc. will be mandatory and must be strictly observed and enforced.

(15) Use of Arogaya Setu:

Employees are advised to ensure that Arogay3 Setu is installed by all the employees having compatible mobile phones.

Similarly, individuals are also to be advised by the district authorities to install Arogaya Setu application on their compatible mobile phones and also regularly update their health status on the app.