In the wake of the third wave of coronavirus across the province, the Sindh government has decided to reimpose restrictions, such as early closure of markets and work-from-home policy for half of the staffers at the government and private offices, to curb the soaring infections.
According to a notification issued by the Home Department, the government has decided to impose these restrictions with an immediate effect for a period of one month ending on April 15. The directions can be amended or changed with respect to the emerging situation, said the notification.
According to the notification, all commercial businesses, e.g. markets, shopping malls, marriage halls, will be opened from 6am to 10pm. These restrictions, however, would not apply to pharmacies, hospitals, and petrol pumps.
As per the notification, the amusement parks will be closed by 6pm, whereas a ban has also been placed on indoor weddings. According to the government, outdoor weddings will be allowed with an upper limit of 300 people till 10pm.
The restaurants are banned from offering indoor dining, as only outdoor dining and takeaways are allowed under the new restrictions. The government has also decided to close indoor gyms, cinemas, theatres and shrines amid rising infections.
In a bid to control the cases, the Sindh government has directed the private and public offices to implement the work-from-home policy, under which the offices will operate at 50 per cent capacity. “Compulsory mask-wearing and social distancing at all government! private offices and public places,” it added.
The government said that smart lockdown will be imposed in the coronavirus hotspots if needed and deemed appropriate by respective Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners under the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014.
