Covid-19:- Shops to open on alternative days in J&K

Jammu, May 30, 2021: After a complete lockdown of one month J&K government on Sunday ordered easing of the lockdown guidelines outside the containment zones in Jammu and Kashmir from Monday.

Almost all shops will open on alternative days in J&K while educational institutions shall remain closed till June 15.

All types of shops are permitted to open on alternate day basis or a rotation system on weekdays except on Saturdays and Sundays as per a roster to be issued by concerned DCs. “Outdoors bazaars and outdoor shopping complexes are also permitted to open on alternate day basis or a rotation system (except on Saturdays and Sundays) as per a roster to be issued by concerned DCs.

However, in case of indoor shopping malls, only 25% of the total shops shall be allowed to open as per a roster to be issued by the DCs in consultation with the Malls’ management,” reads an order .

“Barber Shops, Saloons / Parlours are permitted to open on three days in a week (except on Saturdays and Sundays) as per a roster to be issued by concerned DCs.”

Public transport—matadors, mini-buses and buses etc—has been permitted to ply only at 50% of the authorized seating capacity. “District Superintendents of Police shall ensure compliance to this effect.” Taxis and Cab aggregators are also permitted to operate at 50% capacity while auto-rickshaws /three wheelers are permitted to ply without any restrictions.

Religious places and places of worship shall continue to remain open for public, subject to the SOP already issued in this regard, the order said.

The ceiling on the number of people permitted at attend gatherings/functions shall be 20 in case of funerals and 25 for all other kinds of social/ religious gatherings, whether indoors or at outdoors venues.

“Restaurants shall be allowed to open on all days (except on Saturdays and Sundays) only for home-delivery of orders and room service of residents.”

No entry of customers shall be permitted even for self take-away of orders. However, Bars shall not be permitted to open till further orders, the order said.

Canteens and eateries at Bus stands, Railway stations and Airports are permitted to open on all days, it said.

“Sportspersons are permitted to resume their training and activities in outdoor Sports stadia / grounds. However, indoor sports complexes and Swimming Pools shall continue to remain closed,” it said, adding, “Liquor shops are permitted to open on three days a week (except on Saturdays and or Sundays) as per a roster to be issued by concerned DCs.”

The existing guidelines and SOPs in place for compulsory testing of all incoming passengers/ travelers to J&K shall be strictly enforced, it said.

“Everyone will have to compulsorily undergo a COVID-19 antigent test as prescribed by the protocol in use and may be subjected to quarantine if necessary as per protocol in use.”

Regarding the education institutions, the government said all universities, colleges and technical/ skill development institutions in J&K shall remain closed for imparting on- campus / in-person education to the students till June 15 except for the courses/ programs that require physical presence of students on account of laboratory/ research/ thesis work and internship etc. Teaching in all these institutions will be in on-line mode.

“All schools and coaching centers in J&K shall continue to remain closed for imparting on-campus / in-person education to students of all classes till 15.06.2021,”it said, adding, “the All Schools, Colleges, Technical Education and Skill Development Institutes shall not require in person attendance of any member of the staff.”

The teaching staff shall conduct online classes only from their homes, it said. “The concerned departments will issue guidelines in this regard.”

The Universities have been permitted to seek in person attendance of minimal staff only for research/lab/thesis work etc.

“However, such staff of educational institutions as are needed by the concerned District Disaster Management Authorities for official duties shall not be exempted from duties on account of this order.”

Even where some institutions are allowed to be opened by a specific or general order, educational institutions are strongly advised to take full safety precautions especially by ensuring social distancing, staggered attendance, maintaining sanitation and hygiene, early identification and isolation of suspect cases. An important guideline in MoE’s SOP is also reiterated in this regard, the order said.

All Cinemas, multiplexes, Clubs, Gyms, Spas, Massage Centers and paid parks shall continue to remain closed, it said.

In addition, the Deputy Commissioners will take the following actions in the identified “Containment Zones which includes lockdown shall remain in force in the Containment Zone, Ensure 100% coverage of AarogyaSetu App among the residents of containment Zone. Aggressive contact tracing, Home or Administrative quarantine of individuals based on the risk, Comp Compulsory testing of all cases with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), Influenza like Illness (ILI) and other similar symptoms specified by MOHFW, House to house surveillance by special team constituted for this purpose more frequently, Private clinics and OPDs are not permitted, the Containment Zones will be notified by Deputy Commissioners on their district websites. MD, NHM, shall also notify the same on JK NHM’s website and the updated information shall be regularly shared with MoHFW, Gol.

All District Magistrates shall keep focus on the positivity rate of closed clustered spaces like Public/ Private Offices; Schools, Colleges, Malls; Bazaars etc., and consider implementing control measures in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond 10 percent these spaces or if the hospital occupancy crosses 50%.

Direct admission of patients in tertiary care hospitals shall be allowed only on referral from a district hospital except for emergencies. All COVID patients being admitted to tertiary hospitals in Jammu & Srinagar shall necessarily be based on referral from their respective District Hospitals, except for grave emergencies.

The three-“T” protocol of testing, tracking and treating needs to strengthened. The Divisional Commissioners need to supervise and ensure that tests are conducted uniformly across all districts, with adequate testing to be done in districts reporting higher number of cases. The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up, on best effort basis, to 70 % r more, excluding travelers,

Positive cases so detected as a result of intensive testing need to be isolated/quarantined at the earliest and their contacts have to be traced at the earliest, and similarly isolated / quarantined and tested, if needed, Quick isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment, the D/o HME, GOJK, shall ensure adequate availability of COVID dedicated health and logistics (including ambulatory) infrastructure, based on their assessment of the case trajectory, Areas identified by the Deputy Commissioner within a district as a potential zone of infection will be referred to as a Containment Zone / Red Zone. The SOP/instructions issued by the State Executive Committee vide its order No. 38-JK(DMRRR) of 2020 dated 14.04.2020 for Red Zones/Hot Spots will be valid for Containment Zones/ Red Zones and will be read as the SOP/Instructions for “Containment Zones” within the districts. The term “Red Zone used in the earlier SOPS shall also mean “Containment.

In addition, District Magistrates may take additional local preventive measures such as not allowing assemblies/ processions: notifying micro containment zones for checking spike in infections in their respective districts etc. Necessary orders in this regard may be issued under the DM Act/ CrPC.

No Deputy Commissioner or any subordinate Magistrate shall impose any local lockdown, outside notified Containment Zones, without prior consultation with the State Executive Committee, and following the Orders and guidelines issued by MHA, Govt. of India.

“The following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) / guidelines/ instructions issued by the J&K SEC from time to time (available on the website (www.jkgad.nic.in) shall remain applicable in all the districts.Standard Operating Procedure for Red Zones (also known as Containment Zones) (Dated 14.04.2020), Standard Operating Procedures for de-notifying Red Zones (also known as Containment Zones) (Dated 24.06.2020), Protocol for 100% COVID-19 antigen testing of all incoming passengers by Air Rail Road and Quarantine Procedures to standard Operating Procedures for regulating the opening of religious places (Dated 11.08.2020), All activities permitted under earlier Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) guidelines/ instructions, and the above, shall continue to be permitted in the UT of J&K, except in the areas identified as the “Containment Zones, Protocol to be followed for all Returnees/ Travelers coming into Jammu & Kashmir, There shall be no restrictions on entry of passengers, returnees or travelers coming to Jammu & Kashmir, whether by road, rail or air. However, they will have to compulsorily undergo a COVID-19 antigen test through any of the prescribed methods as per the protocol of the Government of J&K. The protocol for management of COVID positive persons will be followed for all positive cases.

Wholesalers, Fruit & Sabzi mandies may also remain open as necessary in a regulated manner to ensure provision of essential supplies, All Shopping Complexes, Bazaars, Saloons, Barber shops, Cinemal Halls, Restaurants & Bars, Sport Complexes, Gyms, Spas, Swimming Pools, Parks, Zoos etc shall remain closed during the curfew, Restaurants in hotels can remain functional for in-house guests, to be served only in the rooms, Religious & Social Gatherings such as marriages, attended by upto 25 persons only, whether indoors or outdoors, and funerals/ last rites, attended by upto 20 persons only are allowed. vi. There will be no hindrance to the smooth movement of goods and essential supplies, nomads migrating with herds,pproducts like agricultural/ horticultural goods, on the National & State Highways, There shall be no restriction on interstate and intra state movement of essential goods, all Industrial and scientific establishment, both Public & Private are allowed to operate for production purposes or otherwise Internet services, IT, Telecom, IT enabled services sector, including e-Coerce are permitted, There shall be no restriction on the movement of Government Officials for attending office/ duties, All development/construction works shall be allowed to continue without any hindrance.The District Magistrate may issue passes wherever necessary. The vaccination drive shall not be halted. Localized mobile teams. shall be constituted to provide vaccination in colonies, residential areas and containment zones. (PTK)

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