Liquor stores to open on odd-even basis, restaurants to remain closed: Delhi govt clarifies on Covid relaxations

The government said that liquor shops in the national capital will open on an odd-even basis from Monday, June 7, according to the clarifications. Restaurants and bars, even if they are in markets and shopping malls, will continue to remain closed.

The Delhi government on Saturday issued a clarification about the relaxations issued during the ongoing lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

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The government said that liquor shops in the national capital will open on an odd-even basis from Monday, June 7, according to the clarifications. Restaurants and bars, even if they are in markets and shopping malls, will continue to remain closed. Gymnasiums, spas, salons, parlours and cinema halls will also not open. However, revenue services such as registries can operate during the unlock process in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the relaxations for some sectors amid the ongoing lockdown, which was first imposed on April 19 when Delhi was seeing its worst health crisis and was recording 23,000-28,000 Covid-19 cases daily. “Lockdown will continue with more relaxation in other activities,” Kejriwal said while addressing a press briefing.

Markets and shopping malls will open on an odd-even basis from 10am to 8pm from June 7, Delhi Metro will operate at 50 per cent of its capacity and private and government offices will be allowed to reopen with 50 per cent attendance, Kejriwal said during the briefing and suggested that people employed in private offices should prefer working from home (WFH).

The unlock process first started on May 31, where labourers working in factories and construction sites were allowed to resume work after six long weeks. According to the Delhi government, labourers come under the weakest economic sections and needed to work.

Delhi has so far recorded 1,428,863 Covid-19 cases and 24,557 deaths due to the coronavirus disease. On Saturday, the daily tally in the national capital declined further with 414 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the health department’s bulletin. The number of people who have recovered is nearing 1.4 million, while active cases have declined to 6,731.