Goa reopens bars, restaurants in Panaji during Unlock 4.0 (Representational Image)
After remaining closed for more than five months, bars and restaurants in Goa reopened for customers on Tuesday as the state government eased coronavirus enforced restrictions in line with the Centre's guidelines for Unlock 4. The state excise department issued an order on Monday permitting opening of bars and restaurants, with certain conditions, from September 1.
These places have been allowed to reopen after almost 5 months when a pan-India lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
However, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed these outlets to reopen for business as part of the guidelines for Unlock 4.
As per the MHA guidelines, sale of liquor for consumption on the premises of bars and restaurants and
Taverns (Portuguese-era outlets) has been removed from the list of restricted activities by the government, Commissioner of Excise Shashank Mani Tripathi said in the order.
- The department has asked licenced bars and restaurants to adhere to certain conditions while carrying out their business.
- These include ensuring visiting customers wear face masks and follow other norms to avoid spread of the infection.
- No liquor to be sold to the customer who is without a mask or appropriate face cover, the order said.
- Licensee to ensure that customers maintain a minimum six metres distance from each other.
- Provision of sanitiser will be made available at the licensed premises, frequent sanitisation of entire premises, common facilities and all points which come into human contact that is doors, handles, counters etc shall be ensured, it said.
- The department has also made the Aarogya Setu app, a government-mandated tool to fight COVID-19, compulsory for all employees of these outlets.
(With PTI Inputs)
