Ahead of Eid, Covid containment curbs to continue in J&K

SRINAGAR: In the countdown to Eid ul-azha, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday said it will continue with existing Covid containment measures for a week, with the exception that shops will be allowed to open an hour early two days before the festival.

Eid-ul-azha will be celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir on July 21. Last week, the administration had lifted the weekend curfew in 16 of 20 districts of the UT. The order had permitted shops to open on all days from 7am to 7pm with a daily night curfew from 8pm in these 16 districts.

“It has also been seen that the daily cases in the past few days have shown an uneven trend. As such, there is a need to continue with the existing Covid containment measures in these districts,” said State Executive Committee chairperson and chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta’s order.

“Deputy commissioners may allow shops to open at 6 am instead of 7am to avoid rush on July 19 and 20 as per their assessment,” the order said.

Phased opening of educational institutions after July 31

The government has also decided to allow phased opening of higher educational institutions after July 31 subject to vaccination of students and staff.

The administration permitted public and private educational institutions to seek personal attendance of limited vaccinated staff for administrative purposes.

“Higher educational institutes and skill development centres may be considered for phased reopening for on-site learning after July 31 subject to the vaccination status of the students and staff,” it said.