The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that Covid-induced curfew will be lifted in six more districts as the state prepares to 'unlock' following a dip in the fresh cases. Earlier on Sunday, the state had said that relaxations will be provided in 55 of the 75 districts where cases have dropped below 600. The list was revised on Monday with addition of six more districts -- Bijnor, Moradabad, Deoria, Baghpat, Prayagraj and Sonbhadra.
The state government has said that unlocking will be done in a phased manner, adding that some relief will be given in districts will cases less than 600. According to an order, shops and markets will be allowed to open between 7 am to 7 pm from Monday to Friday. However, no relaxations will be given in containment zones.
"The relaxations were announced in 55 districts on Sunday, which has now been increased to 61 (of the state's 75 districts). According to latest reports, the active caseload has fallen below 600 in Sonbhadra, Deoria, Baghpat, Prayagraj, Bijnore and Moradabad, and the relaxations will be applicable in these six districts as well," an official spokesperson said. Eateries on highways and vendors will also be allowed to operate.
Instructions were issued that over the weekend, cleanliness, sanitisation and fogging campaigns will be carried out. Shopkeepers and their employees will have to wear masks, maintain a two-yard distance with each other and customers, and ensure the arrangement of hand sanitiser. These rules will also be applicable to the customers. Not more than five devotees will be allowed inside a religious place at a time. Coaching centres, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, clubs and shopping malls will remain closed, the statement said. A maximum of 20 people will be allowed at a funeral procession.
At railway stations, airports and bus stands, all Covid protocols have to be followed. Screening of passengers and antigen tests have to be conducted. The roadways buses have been allowed to operate within the state. Schools, colleges and educational institutes will remain closed while teachers and other staff have been allowed to come to school for administrative work.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with senior officials. Restrictions will continue as usual on every Saturday and Sunday and night curfew will be imposed in the state from 7 PM to 7 AM daily.
The 14 districts where there would be no relaxations are Meerut, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Jhansi, Lakhimpur-Khiri, Jaunpur and Ghazipur.
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