Mall, market shops to open all days; restaurants at 50%
All shops in malls and market complexes will be allowed to open on all days from 10 am to 8 pm, while restaurants can reopen with 50 per cent capacity in Delhi from Monday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday, saying the Covid-19 situation had significantly come under control in the national capital.
In addition, salons, beauty parlours and barber shops, which have been closed since the lockdown was imposed April 19, will also reopen from Monday, officials said. “All activities, except certain prohibited ones, will be allowed from 5 am on Monday. There are also certain restricted or partly allowed activities announced last week that will continue,” Mr Kejriwal said in an online briefing. One weekly market in every zone can also reopen from June 14.
Mr Kejriwal warned, however, that if cases increased after the unlocking, the restrictions have to be reimposed.
◗ Salons, beauty parlours, barber shops can reopen; one weekly market in each zone; marriages allowed at home with upto 20 people
The relaxations have been allowed on a trial basis for a week, till 5 am on June 21. “We will watch the relaxation allowed to reopen markets/restaurants during next week. If Covid cases do not increase, we will continue the relaxation, but if cases increase, we will have to bring back the restrictions,” the CM said, adding: “I appeal to all market associations and others to prevent crowding and ensure social distancing and other precautions.”
So far, shops in markets and malls had to follow the “odd-even” formula, opening only on alternate days. This meant only half the shops in a mall or market could open on a given day. That restriction has been removed under the latest rules. The shops can stay open only between 10 am and 8
pm. Standalone shops and colony shops dealing with essential services like groceries and milk booths can remain open beyond 8 pm. There will be no specific restrictions on shops dealing with non-essential goods and services such as liquor vends.
There will be no curbs on the inter-state movement of people and goods. This means one can freely move between Delhi and places like Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and other NCR towns.
Certain activities and services like schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutes, political, social, cultural, religious and festival gatherings, cinemas, multiplexes, swimming pools, spas, gyms, and public parks and gardens will continue to remain closed, he said. Religious places in the city will also reopen, but no visitors will be allowed.
Delhi began a stringent lockdown from late evening April 19. The Delhi Metro operations came to a halt on May 10 as cases/deaths continued to spiral. Early this month, construction activities and some factories were allowed to reopen, while markets, malls and the Metro reopened partially on June 7. In its latest order, the DDMA observed that the number of Covid19 patients and the positivity rate has declined considerably and the overall situation has improved, “but due caution and care has to be maintained for consolidating the whole process of Covid management”.
All private offices in NCT Delhi shall continue to function with 50 per cent strength between 9 am to 5 pm, the DDMA order states. All Delhi government offices shall function with 100 per cent strength of Grade-I officers. For the remaining staff, 50 per cent will be called in as needed.