Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday lifted weekend curfew from eight of the 20 districts in the Union Territory in view of significant decline in the number of fresh Coronavirus positive cases.
However, the night curfew would continue to remain in force in these districts.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioners have been authorized to open paid and unpaid parks for the use of the public across the Union Territory after local assessment of the conditions, subject to COVID-appropriate measures.
Meanwhile, markets and roads on Sunday wore a deserted look as restrictions on movement of people and traffic continued since Friday due to weekend COVID curfew imposed across Union Territory, where 521 fresh positive cases, including 346 in Kashmir and 175 in Jammu emerged, on Saturday. Four patients – two each from Kashmir and Jammu – lost their lives due to the virus in the UT on Saturday.
An order issued by the J&K administration said further relaxation in COVID restrictions have been granted in eight districts, including Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur in Jammu division and Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora in Kashmir. “The relaxation was given following significant improvement witnessed in these districts in terms of decline in total weekly new cases, total positivity rate, bed occupancy, case fatality rate, and vaccination coverage of targeted population,” it said.
As per the order, there will be no weekend curfew in these districts though daily night curfew will continue to exist from 2000 hrs to 0700 hrs. “District magistrates concerned shall issue orders under CrPC to this effect,” it said.
“All outdoor shops and trades are permitted to open on all days, only from 0700 hrs till 1900 hrs. As many as 50 per cent of the shops in the indoor shopping complexes and Malls can open subject to a roster to be issued by concerned Deputy Commissioners. All government and private offices can function without any restrictions subject to strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour,” it added.
In the rest of the 12 districts, including Srinagar, the order further said the weekend curfew from Friday 2000 hrs till Monday 0700 hrs and daily night curfew from 2000 hrs till 0700 hrs shall continue.
“All outdoor shops and bazaars are permitted to open on five days in a week (except on Saturdays and Sundays). 25 per cent of the shops would open in indoor shopping complexes and Malls to a roster to be issued by the deputy commissioner concerned,” the order said.
The order further directed district magistrates to ensure full compliance to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and deal strictly with defaulters under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code.
UNI
