Corona Curfew Lifted From 13 Districts In Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, July 4: Jammu and Kashmir lifted weekend corona curfew in six more districts and re-imposed in Reasi on Sunday. With this there will be no curfew on Saturday and Sunday in thirteen out of 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Secretary, who is Chairperson State Executive Committee, announced the relaxations in the 13 districts after a review meeting of the current COVID situation with the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education; Principal Secretary to Government, Home; Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

The six districts where covid-19 curfew has been lifted include Poonch, Raiouri, Anantnaa, Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama.

While weekend curfew has been withdrawn in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Poonch, Raiouri, Udhampur, Anantnaa, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian , daily night curfew along with seven others will continue to exist in these districts from 8 pm to 7 am, reads an order.

Also, the government permitted all outdoor shops to open on all days, only from 7 am till 7 pm.

‘The market associations will have to fully cooperate with the local administration in ensuring strict compliance to the COVID appropriate behavior,” the order added.

All shops in the indoor shopping complexes and Malls can open only for the consumers who are vaccinated or for customers with negative RT-PCR or RAT report of 48 hours prior, the order reads.

The shop owners / managers / staff will have to ensure compliance to it. The District Magistrates have been asked to strictly enforce these measures.

“Restaurants and Bars can open for in-dining at 50 percent of its total capacity, only for the customers who are vaccinated or are carrying a negative RT-PCR or RAT report of 48 hours prior,” the order reads, adding, “The owners / staff / managers of the establishments will have to ensure compliance to it. The District Magistrates shall strictly enforce this measure.”

The indoor sports complexes have been also permitted to open at 50 percent of its total capacity for persons vaccinated/ persons with valid negative report for Covid. “The Swimming Pools will, however, continue to remain closed,” it said, adding, “Public Parks are also permitted to open only for the vaccinated public.”

In respect of other districts, the State Executive Committee said that weekend curfew from Friday 8 pm till Monday 7 am and daily night curfew from 8 pm till 7 am shall continue to remain in force.

“All outdoor shops and bazaars are permitted to open on five days in a week (except on Saturdays and Sundays).”

25 % of the shops in indoor shopping complexes and malls can open subject to a roster to be issued by concerned Deputy Commissioners, it said.

The SEC further ordered that there shall be no restrictions on entry of passengers, returnees or travelers coming to Jammu and 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 order reads, adding, “The protocol for management of COVID positive persons will be followed for all positive cases. The travelers carrying valid and verifiable negative RT-PCR report of 48 hours prior from a recognized testing facility (a copy of which shall be retained by authorities-any false certificate shall render a person liable for action under law) shall be permitted to enter without having to undergo a re-test at the entry point,” it said, adding, “This shall also apply to the pilgrims coming for Mat a Vaishno devi ii pilgrimage at Katra.”