The Punjab government has imposed lockdown yet again amid the fourth wave of the pandemic as cases spike in Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad on Tuesday.
The lockdown is to come in effect from the 3rd of August to the 31st of August according to the provincial government.
The decision to re-impose the lockdown in Punjab was taken by NCOC after a careful consideration of the situation at hand.
As per the Punjab government’s notification, market & business activities will be allowed to operate till 08:00 pm.
However, the provincial government has granted exemption to the following: Pharmacies/Medical stores, medical facilities and vaccination centers, petrol pumps, tandoors, bakeries, milk/dairy shops, food (24 hours a day).
All business and commercial activities will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays, as these will be observed as “closed days”. The Punjab government decided to ban indoor dining in its order, however, outdoor dining has been allowed till 10pm. The provincial government further added that restaurants will be allowed to provide customers with the takeaway service 24 hours a day.
Indoor weddings were to be banned from August 8, 2021. Moreover, outdoor weddings shall be allowed with a maximum of 400 guests under strict COVID protocols with a curfew of 10pm.
A closure of shrines and cinema’s was also included in the lockdown restrictions.
There shall be a complete ban on contact sports, which include (Karate, Boxing, Martial Arts, Rugby, Water Polo, Kabaddi & Wrestling). Moreover, gyms shall remain open only for vaccinated individuals/members.
Normal office working hours for both public/private offices will continue. However, attendance level is reduced from 100% to 50%. Government Imposed bans on snacks being served to passengers during journey by the transport services. Furthermore, maximum occupancy level of public transport was advised to be reduced from 70% to 50%. Rail services shall continue to operate with 70% occupancy under strict COVID protocols.
