GUWAHATI, June 1 - The State government today issued new directives for �Unlock 1 phase� allowing reopening of activities with strict compliance of social distancing, hygiene and other health protocols directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs outside containment zones. The guidelines coming into force from June 1 will be effective till June 30.
The relaxations include reopening of places of worship for public from June 8 subject to gathering of maximum 20 persons per hour. However, if any religious place has only a small area, the management committee of such religious institution shall downsize the number of attendees accordingly.
All religious institutions have been asked to issue disposable paper tokens to regulate number of visitors per hour and ensure safe disposal of tokens before entering the religious places. Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services can open from June 8 maintaining social distancing with 50 per cent of total capacity at a time.
Shopping malls also can open from June 8 maintaining social distancing. Public parks and open spaces for yoga, morning walk, jogging, etc., without sitting arrangements have been allowed to function from June 1.
Film and video shooting for both government and private in open spaces and studios by maintaining social distancing has also been allowed from June 1.
Barber shops and beauty parlours can open for hair trimming purposes only from June 1 maintaining social distancing and strict use of masks and gloves with very frequent sanitization.
The guidelines will be enforced by district magistrates through fines and penal action as prescribed in Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC and other legal provisions.
Movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited between 9 pm to 5 am throughout the State, except for essential activities. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years have been advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes. Pillion riding in two wheelers is not allowed except for ladies and children below twelve years of age.
Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed. Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will not be allowed.
Schools, colleges, universities, coaching centres and other similar places of gathering will remain closed until further orders. No activity will be permitted in containment zones.
All other restrictions issued earlier will continue to remain in force.
Meanwhile, on the first day of the easing of relaxation, the Guwahati roads witnessed more commuters towards the evening. Shops were also open till around 8 pm at many places.
