Punjab imposes tough restrictions to control spike

Chandigarh: Reeling under the second wave of Covid-19, the Punjab government on Sunday imposed additional restrictions with an aim to control the spread of the virus.
All the shops selling non-essential items will continue to remain closed till May 15. The shops selling essential items allowed to remain open include pharmacies and shops dealing with the supply of milk, bread, vegetables, fruits, poultry products, and mobile repair.
There are no restrictions on laboratories, nursing homes, and all other medical establishments. People entering the state by air, rail and road will have to produce a negative Covid-19 report no more than 72 hours old or a vaccination certificate.
All government offices and banks will work at 50% strength. All four-wheeler passenger vehicles, including cars and taxis, will not be allowed to carry more than two passengers. No pillion riders on scooters and motorcycles will be allowed except those belonging to the same family and living in the same house.
Gatherings of more than 10 people, including for weddings or cremations, have been banned.
The Punjab government has appealed to farm unions and religious leaders not to hold gatherings and restrict the number of protesters to token presence at toll plazas, petrol pumps, and malls. The Punjab government has also decided to carry out Covid testing of all street and roadside vendors.
The district administrations have been asked to step up implementation of daily night curfew from 6 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew from 6 pm on Friday up to 5 am on Monday throughout the state. No vehicle except for medical purposes will be allowed to ply.
All bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, swimming pools, coaching centres and sports complexes will remain closed while restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, dhabas, and fast-food outlets are closed for dine-in purposes and can only function for home delivery till 9 pm.