Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday announced a relaxation of COVID-19-induced lockdown in the state from June 1, Tuesday, onwards but only in those districts where active cases are less than 600.
There are twenty districts with more than 600 active COVID-19 cases --Meerut, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahar, Jhansi, Prayagraj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sonbhadra, Jaunpur, Bagpat, Moradabad, Gazipur Bijnore and Deoria.
In a fresh directive by state chief secretary R K Tiwari, all shops, markets and supermarkets will be allowed to open from 0700 hrs to 1900 hrs for five days from Monday to Friday. There will be two days of weekly closure of the markets and shops for sanitisation work.
However school, colleges, coaching institutes, cinema halls, multiplexes, malls, clubs and swimming pools would not be allowed to open.
The government offices will continue to work on 50 per cent strength while private companies can function under COVID-19 protocol and by promoting work from home policy.
The new guidelines have allowed the reopening of restaurants but only for home delivery. Dhabas and restaurants on the highways can open with COVID-19 restrictions. Now religious places can be opened but 5 people at a time will be allowed inside.
Transport company can function while their warehouse could be open. The UPSRTC buses have been allowed with no standing passengers and regular sanitisation of the buses.
The government has restricted only two passengers on three-wheelers and e- rickshaws while only four people can travel in a car. People on two-wheelers have also been allowed with masks and helmets.
The guidelines have allowed the opening of egg, fish, and meat shops only in a closed area with full cleanness. The construction work has been allowed with a strict following of COVID-19 protocols.
The government has fixed 25 guests in a marriage function and 20 people in a funeral.
The COVID-19 curfew was clamped in UP from May 1 and it was extended every week. (UNI)