Chandigarh hotels, malls set to reopen on June 8

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 30

Hoteliers heaved a sigh of relief as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed hotels and restaurants to reopen from June 8. Also, morning walkers have a reason to smile as the UT Administration plans to implement the revised timings of the night curfew from Monday.

What’s allowed

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• Opening religious places and places of worship for public
• Running hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services
• Opening of malls

What’s Not

• Opening of cinema halls | Gymnasiums | Swimming pools | Entertainment parks | Theatres | Bars | Auditoriums | Assembly halls
• Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions

The MHA today issued new guidelines for a phased reopening of all activities outside the containment zones. However, the UT Administration will take a final decision on the new guidelines on Monday. Following the guidelines, the UT may allow reopening religious places and places of worship for public besides hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services, and shopping malls from June 8.

The night curfew for individuals and all non-essential activities will continue to remain in force. However, the timings of the curfew have been revised to 9 pm to 5 am. These timings will be applicable from Monday.

The UT will also take a call on reopening of schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions, etc, after consultations with all stakeholders. While the lockdown will be implemented strictly in the containment zones, some relaxations may be allowed in the buffer zones.

UT Adviser Manoj Parida said they would strictly follow the MHA orders. He said barbershops and beauty parlours would be allowed to reopen in the first week of June. On reopening of the OPDs at the PGI, Parida said the PGI authorities would take a call on it.