Assam allows non-contact sporting activities without spectators, marriage ceremonies with 50 people

GUWAHATI: Assam has pushed forward the timing of the 12-hour night curfew period from 6 pm to 7 pm as it allowed government and private offices to function with full strength and only non-contact sporting activities without spectators besides lifting several other curbs from day one of the two-week long fourth edition of nation-wide Covid-19 lockdown from Monday.
“We have allowed normal functioning for all offices but private offices are at liberty to decide on the attendance. But, pregnant women and people above 65 years of age will not be allowed to come to offices in both sectors, except those engaged in government emergency duties,” state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
A new relaxation now will allow marriage ceremonies with not more than 50 persons but by maintain social distance. The limit for funerals, last rites, remains at 20 persons, but all other social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other gatherings will remain prohibited.
Apart from those bringing in stranded people as per MHA guidelines, the state government this time has allowed inter- state movement of buses, but only after mutually agreed understanding between concerned states.
But bank employees are allowed to move beyond 7 pm depending on necessity. The permitted activities with restrictions will not be applicable in containment and buffer zones though.
As further relaxations from last lockdown period, delivery of all commodities be e-commerce has been allowed till 7 PM but back end activities, including warehouse, is allowed at all hours.
All automobile dealerships and outlets are also allowed to operate between 7 am and 7 pm but supply chain related to essential food items like milk, fish and other perishables including workers engaged are allowed to operate at all times.
Continuing with the last relaxations, shopping malls will remain closed but private offices located in the same building are allowed to operate. All stand-alone and market complex shops are allowed to operate till 6 pm but shops in malls shall remain closed. Large stand-alone shops are allowed to operate with limited number of customers.
Auto Rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis shall also continue to operate with one driver and two passengers maintaining social distancing. Private four wheelers are also allowed with driver and two others and for two wheelers, pillion riding is allowed either with one female or one child up to the age of 12 years.
All construction works shall be allowed between 7 am and 6 pm. However, all construction activities relating to highway construction, flood control works are ailowed at all times.
City buses, intra-district and inter-district buses also will continue operate with 50% sitting capacity but are not permitted to stop in the containment and buffer zones.
All tea shops, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, cooked food outlets are allowed to operate on take away or home delivery basis only till 7 pm including grocery by grocery shops. But barber shops, salons and parlours shall continue to remain closed, however, home visits would be allowed after following hygiene and sanitization norms.
Haats and bazars including weekly markets will also remain closed throughout the state, but livestock carrying trucks are allowed to enter the state except those carrying pigs.
While wearing of face masks is compulsory in all public and work places and social distancing will remain mandatory in public places and in transport;
Similarly all schools, colleges, educational, training, coaching institutions etc have not been allowed to re-open. Likewise hotel restaurants and other hospitality services other than those used for housing health, police, government officials, healthcare workers, stranded persons including tourists and those used for quarantine facilities shall remain closed.
All cinema, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly of halls and similar places will also remain closed. m) All religious places/ places of worship shall be closed for public. Religious
Consumption of liquor, paan, gutkha,tobacco etc. in public places strictly prohibited and spitting in public and work places will be punishable with fine