LUCKNOW: Rakshabandhan celebrations on August 22 will not be hampered by the Sunday curfew being continued since April.
As active Covid-19 cases in the state came down to 408 on Friday, CM Yogi Adityanath issued directions to lift all curbs, except the night curfew which will remain in place from 10 pm to 6 am. This will be implemented from the coming Sunday.
“The positivity rate in the state has been 0.01% for several days now and active cases in the state are nearly 400. With festival season starting, the CM decided that there was no need for restrictions during the day and hence, curfew on Sunday’s is also lifted. Markets will now be shut on days during which they observed their weekly closure before the Covid-19,” said a government spokesperson.
The relief comes for the state after more than four months. When the second wave started peaking in April, the government permitted district magistrates to implement a night curfew. On April 8, the night curfew which had been implemented across the state by then, was rolled into a prolonged curfew which was lifted only about a month later while weekend curbs remained. On August 14, the government did away with Saturday restrictions and now, with Rakhi being observed this Sunday, all curbs have been lifted.
The state is preparing to start holding offline school for classes 1-5 from September 1 and for classes 6-8 from Monday, August 23. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had earlier said that if cases start rising again, teaching could move online once again.
The restrictions have been removed, said the official, on the condition that people continue wearing masks, observing physical distance and using sanitizers. If active cases in any district rise above 500, the government has said that restrictions will be brought back. Currently, the highest number of active cases in any district is 37 — in Mainpuri and Prayagraj.
The government has also allowed holding of coaching classes. Swimming pools continue to remain closed. Malls, restaurants, bars and street food stalls can open, subject to a maximum of 50% occupancy. Cinemas can also function, subject to a maximum occupancy of 50%.
