Srinagar, June1: Police parties on Tuesday were seen patrolling the markets in Kashmir asking people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour strictly, especially maintaining social distance and wearing of face masks.
“We are not out of COVID-19 as yet. Please keep in mind your safety and the safety of others by following the guidelines properly,” the police parties were seen asking people. At several places, public address systems fitted in patrolling vehicles were used to drop the message.
A senior police officer told the Greater Kashmir that the process of asking people to follow COVID SOPs is going on across J&K. “Not only in Kashmir, it is also there in Jammu,” the officer said that they won’t allow people to lower the guard against COVID-19.
The new guidelines issued by the administration on Sunday have allowed the opening of shops on alternate days. While public transport is allowed to ply in orange zone districts with a capacity of 50 percent passengers, it will remain closed in red category districts.
After some improvement in the Covid-19 situation in the union territory in the last two weeks, the administration has started the process of relaxing the lockdown from Sunday and has decided to keep the ‘corona curfew’ in force only during night and over the weekend.
Deciding to relax the ‘corona curfew’, the Jammu and Kashmir State Executive Committee (JKSEC) has asked all educational institutions, including private coaching centres, to remain closed till June 15.
Out of 10 districts of Kashmir; Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam and Kupwara have been placed as Red zone while Srinagar, Shopian, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Bandipora have been placed in Orange category.
In Jammu also, policemen are constantly monitoring the partially open markets and asking people to follow appropriate behaviour in respect of covid.
According to the new guidelines, complete corona night curfew will remain imposed from 8 pm to 7 am, while there will be a weekend curfew from 8 pm Friday till 7 am Monday.