38 blocks have high positivity rate than their Distts
Night curfew to remain in force
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 4: The Union Territory Government today ordered opening of Restaurants, Bars and Indoor Sports Complexes with 50 percent of strength for vaccinated and COVID negative people and all shops in the Indoor Shopping Complexes/Malls with conditions in 13 districts including six in Jammu and seven in Kashmir.
The guidelines were issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC) Chairperson and Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta.
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Thirteen districts where more relaxations have been given include Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur in Jammu division and Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian in Kashmir.
Restaurants and Bars have been permitted to open in these 13 districts for in-dining at 50 percent of the capacity but only for the customers who are vaccinated or are carrying a negative RT-PCR or RAT report of 48 hours prior, the SEC order said and added that it will be the responsibility of owners/staff/ Managers of the establishments to ensure compliance of the order.
The District Magistrates will strictly enforce the measure, the SEC said.
Similarly, Indoor Sports Complexes have also been permitted to open at 50 percent of total capacity only for vaccinated persons and COVID negative report holders. However, the Swimming Pools will remain closed.
Paid public parks will open for the vaccinated public.
“All shops in the Indoor Shopping Complexes/Malls will open but for the vaccinated and negative COVID report holders,” the SEC said, adding outdoor shops will open on all days from 7 am to 7 pm.
There will be no weekend curfew in 13 districts but night curfew will continue from 8 pm to 7 am.
In rest of the seven districts including Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban and Reasi in Jammu region, weekend curfew will remain in force from 8 pm Friday to 7 am Monday while daily night curfew will also continue from 8 pm to 7 am.
Outdoor shops and bazaar in seven districts will open on five days in a week except Saturdays and Sundays while 25 percent shops in Indoor Shopping Complexes/Malls will open on the basis of roster to be issued by the concerned Deputy Commissioners.
The SEC observed that 21 blocks in Kashmir division and 17 in Jammu region have shown positivity rate higher than their concerned districts during past one week. It directed the Deputy Commissioners to take strict measures related to COVID Appropriate Behaviour and opening of activities in the high positivity rate blocks.
“All Deputy Commissioners will keep active track of positivity rates in these blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like public/ private offices, community halls, Malls, Bazaars etc in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond 4-5 percent there,” the SEC order said.
It added that testing, tracking and treating is required to be strengthened in these blocks and proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up on best efforts basis to 70 percent or more excluding travelers.
“Positive cases detected during the intense testing should be isolated/quarantines at the earliest and their contacts should also be traced, isolated and tested. Quick isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment facilities/hospitals/ homes,” the Government order said.
It added that there will be no restrictions on entry of passengers, returnees or travelers coming to Jammu and Kashmir whether by road, rail or air. However, they will have to compulsorily undergo a COVID-19 Antigen test through any of the prescribed methods as per the protocol of the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
“The travelers carrying valid and verifiable negative RT-PCR report of 48 hours prior from a recognized testing facility shall be permitted to enter J&K without undergoing re-test. This method will also apply on the pilgrims coming to Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine at Katra,” the SEC said.
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