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In the wake of the relentless onslaught of coronavirus across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government issued fresh guidelines banning any kind of social, cultural or religious gatherings and ordering closure of cinema halls, gyms, spas and shopping complexes from Thursday. The new restrictions will remain in force for the next 14 days.
Issuing the guidelines in Lucknow, Chief Secretary RK Tiwari said that wedding ceremonies with a minimum of 50 persons and cremation with 20 persons would be allowed.
“Necessary services like health care, police, fire, bank, electricity, water and irrigation, scheduled operation of common transport would however continue. Public transport like railways, metro, buses and cabs would operate with a maximum of 50 per cent capacity. There will be no restriction on operations of inter-state and intra-state buses along with transportation of essential commodities,” he said.
All offices, government and private, will work with a maximum of 50 per cent of staff strength. All industrial and scientific establishments, both government and private, will work in accordance with physical distancing norms and employees will be periodically made to undergo rapid antigen tests.
As per the guidelines, as the virus transmission is through human contact, there is a need to prevent more cases not only by curbing the virus spread but also reducing human contact.
People with symptoms of the viral infection should be quarantined to ensure that the infection did not spread and all persons who come in contact with them should be quarantined, isolated and tested.
“During the night curfew, the movement of persons will be strictly prohibited except under appropriate provisions of the law and the decision will be taken by the local administrations to determine the duration of night curfew in areas falling under their jurisdiction,” the guidelines said.
Community volunteers, civil society organisations, ex-servicemen and local NYK/NSS centres should be included for sustainable management of containment areas and people should be encouraged to go for vaccination.