Shops & other business establishments were forced to shut by the local administration across Srinagar city on Tuesday morning. The movement of Public transport was very thin. People are confused about what and whom to listin.
Meanwhile, The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today said that unlocking corona curfew, a tough decision was taken for people, however, public also must cooperate, maintain appropriate covid behavior religiously to contain spread of virus.
He said this while chairing a meeting attended by Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar , Anantnag, Baramulla and Budgam, Commissioner SMC, Director Health Services Kashmir, Director Tourism, Director SWD, JD Information, CMOs and other senior officers from the Health and concerned departments.
The meeting among others was also attended by heads of various tour, travel, traders, transporters and tourism bodies besides representatives from other related associations. He said despite the positivity rate in most of the districts of Kashmir still above 5 percent, the government unlocked the corona curfew in a phased manner for relief to the people hit during the lockdown period.
The Div Com appealed to people in general and shopkeepers, public transporters and traders to ensure adherence to Covid SOPs in letter and spirit. He emphasized that shopkeepers should avoid unnecessary rush at their shops and public transporters should carry only 50 percent passengers and follow the laid down guidelines religiously to ensure containment of virus.
The Div Com further stressed on carrying out aggressive vaccination of eligible persons of targeted population and ensure 100 percent coverage of all priority groups including, shopkeepers, drivers, conductors, journalists, employees, persons with disabilities and other targeted groups at the earliest.
He directed concerned to set up vaccination booths and operate mobile vaccination centers to ensure all people associated with trade, travel and associated sectors are vaccinated as soon as possible. He appealed to heads of these associations to go for mass vaccination against Covid-19 virus, their employees and family members to ensure breaking of chain of transmission in the community.
He said that unlocking restrictions shall give respite to small traders, Mohallah shopkeepers, street vendors, small eatable vendors who have been severely hit during the lockdown period, however, those traders and shopkeepers who have better financial conditions should avoid opening their shops during this period.
The Div Com rebuffed the news spread against vaccines as fake and urged people not to pay heed to any such negative information. He said that vaccines are safe and have high protection against the virus and getting vaccinated has become a social obligation to ensure our own safety as well as safeguarding others.
At the outset, Div Com took stock of district wise progress of the vaccination process from concerned DCs and instructed them to intensify the campaign to ensure 100 percent coverage of all eligible persons.
Meanwhile, as the process of partial unlocking started after over a month of COVID-19 curfew, shops and business establishments re-opened partially on Monday across Kashmir and traffic plied on roads.
However, classwork remained suspended as educational institutes – including schools, colleges, universities, and private coaching centres – have been directed to remain closed till June 15. All gyms and parks would also remain closed till further orders in Kashmir where weekend and night curfew would continue.
In the last week of May, Jammu and Kashmir administration had extended the COVID curfew, which was supposed to end on May 23, by another week till May 31 in all 20 districts of the Union Territory amid no letup in the number of fresh coronavirus cases and deaths.
That was the fourth successive extension of COVID curfew since April 29 in the valley, where the vaccination drive has picked up after severe criticism over non-availability of jabs for several weeks.
According to the unlock guidelines issued by the authorities, shops will remain open on alternate days in Kashmir. The public transport has been allowed to ply at 50 per cent seat capacity in Orange category districts and remains shut, except three wheelers, in Red category districts. Five districts in Kashmir — Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara and Budgam — have been put in Red category districts while the remaining five — Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Shopian and Kulgam – have been put in Orange category.
The COVID lockdown will continue in the 96 containment zones in Srinagar city. Shopkeepers and transporters have been asked to display COVID vaccination certificates and adhere to coronavirus appropriate behavior.
