In Punjab, non-essential shops shut on Sundays

CHANDIGARH: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh on Friday approved detailed weekend and holiday restriction guidelines under which inter-district movement will be barred except for e-pass holders, and only shops dealing with essential commodities and services will be allowed to operate on all days of the week.
Under the new guidelines, shops dealing with essential commodities and services will remain open on all days till 7 pm, restaurants (for take home/home delivery only) and liquor shops will also continue to be open till 8pm on all days. However, other shops will remain closed on Sundays, while on Saturdays they can open till 5 pm, with the district authorities directed to ensure strict compliance of these timings.
The district magistrates may choose, in consultation with the respective market associations, to order closure of the non-essential shops on any other day of the week also, especially in the high-risk areas where the cases are high.
E-pass for inter-dist movement
Inter-district movement will be allowed with e-passes issued only for essential work, but no pass shall be required for such travel in case of medical emergency. The e-passes will also be required for marriage functions and will be issued only for 50 specific persons.
During review meeting on Thursday, Amarinder said the Punjab government’s focus was on saving the lives of Punjabis, even if it meant taking tough measures, particularly in the light of the grave projections of the pandemic peaking over the next two months.
The guidelines issued on Friday are in addition to those notified earlier by the state government for Lockdown 5.0 / Unlock 1.0 and will remain in force on weekends and gazette holidays till further orders.
Expressing grave concern over the spiraling Covid cases in the country, particularly Delhi, Amarinder once again appealed to the people of Punjab to strictly adhere to the social distancing norms and mandatory wearing of masks. The situation demanded stringent compliance with all the restrictions. Though the situation in the state was relatively in control, the Punjab government was not ready to take any chances, given the escalating trend of the pandemic, he said.