Assam government allows inter-state bus movement, full strength in offices

GUWAHATI: Assam pushed back the timing of the 12-hour night curfew period from 6 pm to 7 pm, allowed government and private offices to function with full strength, non-contact sporting activities without spectators and lifted several other curbs from Day 1 of the two-week long Lockdown 4.0 that from Monday.
"We have allowed normal functioning of 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 people by maintaining social distancing rules. The limit for funerals and last rites remains at 20 people and all other social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions or other gatherings will remain prohibited.
Apart from those bringing in stranded people as per the 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 by e-commerce has been allowed till 7 pm. But back-end activities, including warehouse operations, 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 and the workers engaged in such work 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 standalone and market complex shops are allowed to operate till 6 pm but shops in malls shall remain closed. Large standalone shops are allowed to operate with limited number of customers.
Tea shops, restaurants to remain open till 7pm
Auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis shall 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 and flood control works are ailowed at all times.
City buses, intra-district and inter-district buses also will continue to 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 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 remain closed throughout the state. However, livestock-carrying trucks are allowed to enter the state, except those carrying pigs. Wearing of face masks is compulsory in all public and work places and social distancing will remain mandatory in public places and in transport.
Schools, colleges, educational, training and coaching institutions have not been allowed to reopen. Likewise, hotels, 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 halls and similar places will also remain closed. All religious places/places of worship shall be closed for public. Consumption of liquor, paan, gutkha and tobacco in public places is strictly prohibited and spitting in public and work places will be punishable with fine.