Punjab CM orders extension of coronavirus restrictions; allows opening of universities on a condition
With cases of Delta Plus variant coming to light, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered extension of the coronavirus restrictions till July 10, with certain more relaxations, including the opening of universities, bars, pubs, and ahatas at 50 percent capacity, beginning July 1.
Skill Development Centres and Universities in Punjab have also been allowed to open conditional to the staff and students have taken at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. IELTS coaching institutes were already allowed to be opened, subject to students and staff have taken at least one dose of vaccine.
Also Read | Nirmala Sitharaman announces Credit Guarantee Scheme among other economic relief measures
Announcing the extension of coronavirus restriction, Punjab Chief Minister made it clear that the bars, pubs, and ahatas would have to strictly maintain social distancing protocols, and waiters/ servers/other employees should have taken at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. He made it clear that it would be the responsibility of the owners to ensure that the conditions are met.
Also Read | Petrol and diesel prices in India up over Rs 8 per litre in 55 days
Expressing satisfaction over the decline in positivity to less than 1 percent, with an overall fall inactive cases, Captain Amarinder Singh noted that the positivity rate in some districts still remained over 1 percent.
Further, the finding of Delta plus variant was a matter of concern, making it essential to continue with the curbs, he stressed.
The month-wise whole-genome sequencing has shown that more than 90% is a variant of concern, with the original virus has been practically replaced by variants, disclosed the Chief Minister.
Two cases (Ludhiana and Patiala) have shown Delta plus variant, while in May and June, the Delta variant was most prevalent, he pointed out.
-PTC News
