Punjab: Shops to close by 5pm, but home delivery till 9pm

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab home department on Tuesday allowed all shops, including those in malls and multiplexes, to close by 5 pm with home delivery up to 9 pm.
A spokesperson of the chief minister’s office said the home department has issued a detailed order, imposing additional restrictions to be strictly imposed throughout the state forthwith till further orders.
However, daily night curfew (already enforced from 8 pm to 5 am) will now be from 6 pm to 5 am on all days, prohibiting all the non-essential activities. Week-end curfew from 5 am on Saturday up to 5 am on Monday would also continue. However, all essential activities would remain exempted. All private offices, including service industry, have been allowed to work from home only.
The chemist shops and shops dealing with supply of essential goods like milk, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, besides manufacturing industry, have been exempted from Covid restrictions, subject to adherence of Covid protocols. The movement of employees/labour of manufacturing industry and vehicles carrying them has also been allowed. However, the concerned industry would issue them requisite permission for the purpose.
Likewise, activities including ‘to and fro’ movement of passengers travelling by air/train/buses, construction activities in both the urban and rural areas, agriculture including procurement, horticultural, animal husbandry, veterinary services, e-commerce and movement of all goods, vaccination out-reach camps have also been exempted from the aforesaid restrictions subject to strict adherence of health protocols.
The district authorities will ensure strict implementation of all the extant directives of Union home ministry on Covid appropriate behaviour, including social distancing norms of 6 feet distance etc.