News Analysis India

Tag: J&K coronavirus

  • COVID-19: Lockdown curbs eased in Jammu & Kashmir; weekend, night curfew to continue

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: With the drop in Covid cases and deaths, Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday ordered easing of the Covid lockdown restrictions in the Union Territory but the weekend and night curfew would continue.

    Chief Secretary, who is Chairperson State Executive Committee, on Sunday ordered the easing of Corona curfew in J&K from May 31. The Corona Curfew was imposed in J&K a month back after a surge in Covid cases.

    The curfew, however, will remain in force on weekends. The night curfew will also remain in force from 8 pm till 7 am. As per the revised guidelines, all educational institutions in J&K shall remain closed till June 15. The cinema halls, multiplexes, clubs, gyms, spas, massage centres and paid parks shall also remain closed.

    However, standalone shops have been permitted to open on an alternate day basis or rotation system except on Saturdays and Sundays as per the roster to be issued by Deputy Commissioners.

    “Outdoor bazaars and outdoor shopping complexes are also permitted to open on an alternate day basis or a rotation system. However, at indoor shopping malls only 25% of total shops can open on any day,” reads the order.

    Saloons/parlours can open three days a week (except on Saturdays and Sundays).
    The public transport can ply only at 50% of the authorized seating capacity. Taxis and cab aggregators can operate at 50% capacity while three-wheelers have been permitted to ply without any restrictions.
    According to the order, religious places and places of worship shall continue to remain open, subject to already issued SOPs.
    The ceiling on the number of people permitted to attend gatherings/functions shall be 20 in case of funerals and 25 for all other kinds of social/ religious gatherings, whether indoors or at outdoors venues.
    Restaurants and hotels will be open only for in-house guests and home delivery.
    The outdoor sports stadia can open while indoor stadia and swimming pools remain closed.
    However, in the five districts categorized as ‘Red Zone’, public transport would be shut and malls remain closed. However, three-wheelers can play on alternate days on the odd-even formula.

    J&K today recorded 2256 new Covid cases and 29 deaths (20 in Jammu region & 9 in Kashmir) in the last 24 hours. The total Covid cases in J&K now stands at  288940 while there are 37677 active cases. A total of 3870 deaths have been reported so far.

  • COVID-19: J&K postpones Class XI exams, social gatherings can have no more than 100 attendees

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Concerned over the spike in coronavirus cases, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday restricted the ceiling on social gatherings to 100 people and also announced the postponement of Class 11 examination.

    The latest directive comes two days after Lt Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration deferred biannual ‘darbar move’ to Srinagar, extended closure of all schools up to and including Class 12 till April 30 along with private coaching centres.

    It also cancelled the ongoing Class 10 examination being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

    There has been a spike in coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one month. On Friday, the Union Territory recorded 1,144 new COVID-19 cases, including 180 travellers, taking the infection tally to 1,44,021, while two more coronavirus-related deaths pushed the toll to 2,048.

    On April 15, the Jammu and Kashmir administration came out with a series of COVID-control measures and announced deferment of the bi-annual darbar move, over a century-old exercise under which the government functions six months each in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.

    The civil secretariat — the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government — and other move offices including the Raj Bhavan were scheduled to close in Jammu on April 30 to May 1 and set to begin functioning in summer capital Srinagar from May 10.

    “In view of sharply rising cases of COVID in J&K, the government has taken a few important decisions ensuring safety of employees. Darbar move deferred because of COVID. Secretariat to function in both #Srinagar & #Jammu.

    Office functioning not to be affected because of e-Office,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a series of tweets on Thursday.

    The administration has also ordered the cancellation of Class 10 examination and the postponed of Class 12 papers, besides ordering testing of all incoming travellers at Lakhanpur and inter-state movers at Thandi Khui in Samba district.

    It also ordered the closure of private coaching centres till April end.