CHANDIGARH: With the second Covid-19 wave abating, Punjab government has ordered graded relaxations from June 8, including opening of shops till 6pm and allowing private offices to function at 50% strength, but further extended the curbs till June 15 With case positivity declining to 3.2% and active cases also coming down, the chief minister allowed gatherings of up to 20 people, including weddings and cremations.
Entry restrictions of negative Covid test/vaccination for entering the state have also been done away with.
Recruitment exams will be allowed to be held subject to adherence to social distancing and other Covid appropriate norms, though the CM said online mode should be preferred.
Sports training for national and international events has also been permitted and the department of sports has been asked to issue the necessary instructions and guidelines, which shall have to be strictly adhered to.
Night curfew will remain in force from 7 pm to 6 am on weekdays, including Saturdays and the regular weekend curfew will continue on Sundays, the CM announced.
The CM said district administration may determine the opening of non-essential shops, including on the weekend, on the basis of the local situation.
In the case of government offices, he said that attendance can be decided by the head of the concerned office but co-morbid/disabled employees at risk may be exempted.
Further relaxations will be allowed in the coming weeks, if the cases continue to decline, said Captain Amarinder, adding that gymnasiums and restaurants could be opened after a week at 50% capacity, and other conditions as per experts’ advice, if the situation improves further.
Owners and workers of gyms and restaurants should get themselves vaccinated prior to reopening, he added.
For better management of cases, the CM asked the departments to reduce testing time.
Post-Covid complications should be studied carefully for better preparation to handle those, he said, citing the example of Milkha Singh, who was discharged after Covid recovery but had to be again hospitalised.
He said he had been informed that 20% of patients in hospitals in Patiala are those of recovered patients being readmitted.
Punjab’s Covid expert group head Dr KK Talwar informed the meeting that almost 30% Covid patients are having post-Covid complications and continue to be symptomatic.
Patients are taking almost three months to get back to normal, and thus need to be strictly monitored, he added.
In Punjab, shops can open till 6pm, curbs on till June 15
