Punjab Eases Covid Curbs From July 1, Allows Bars To Open With 50% Capacity

Other COVID-19 restrictions already in place in Punjab have been extended till July 10 in view of Delta Plus cases coming to light in the state.

With cases of Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 coming to light, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered extension of the coronavirus restrictions till July 10, with certain more relaxations, including the opening of bars, pubs with 50 per cent capacity, beginning July 1. Skill development centres and universities have also been allowed to open with conditions that staff and students must have taken at least one dose of vaccine. IELTS coaching institutes were already allowed to be opened, subject to students and staff have taken at least one dose of vaccine, the press release said. Announcing the relaxations at a high-level Covid review meeting, the Chief Minister made it clear that the bars, pubs and that as would have to strictly maintain social distancing protocols, and waiters/servers/other employees should have taken at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. He made it clear that it would be the responsibility of the owners to ensure that the conditions are met. Expressing satisfaction over the decline in positivity to less than 1 per cent, with an overall fall in active cases, the Chief Minister noted that the positivity rate in some districts still remained over 1 per cent. Further, the finding of Delta plus variant was a matter of concern, making it essential to continue with the curbs, he stressed.