Punjab curfew/lockdown extended; here are the guidelines for the opening of shops

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced the extension of curfew/lockdown in the state for two weeks. On the directives of the chief minister, the State Home Department has issued detailed guidelines to allow the opening of shops in a staggered way on rotation, maintaining uniform timings from 7 am to 11 am. An official spokesperson stated that the issue of opening of shops has been considered in detail. It was decided that all the districts should allow the opening of shops as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, but they should do so in a staggered way on rotation, maintaining uniform timings from 7 am to 11 am only. The Spokesperson further said that during the period of the opening of shops, the common man would be allowed to go out to procure commodities strictly adhering to complete coronavirus prevention measures such as social distancing, use of sanitisers and masks etc. He added that not only curfew should be enforced strictly, no one should be allowed to open shops or move around without prior permission of the Competent Authority. The Spokesperson also said that in line with the 4th corrigendum of MHA issued on April 24, the State Home Department has issued detailed guidelines clarifying that the word ‘shopping complexes' is replaced with 'market complexes' within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities. It means that the activities in market complexes would continue to remain prohibited until May 3, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/ptcnewsonline/videos/226516468771598/ In the rural areas, all shops registered under the Shops & Establishment Act except those in multi-brand and single-brand malls are allowed to open with 50 percent strength of workers. Similarly, in urban areas, all stand-alone shops, neighbourhood shops and shops in residential complexes are allowed to open. The Shops in markets, market complexes and shopping malls are not allowed to open. Also read | Exams of Class 10 and 12 will be conducted: CBSE Those shops which deal in goods and establishments dealing in services like saloons, barber shops etc. would continue to remain closed. E-Commerce companies will continue to be permitted for essential goods only and the sale of liquor continues to be prohibited. -PTC News