New Delhi: In the light of a continuous surge in Covid cases, Himachal Pradesh on Sunday announced five-day week in its government offices that are to work with 50% staff strength from January 10 to 24. It also banned social and religious gatherings for the same period.
However, the restrictions will not be applicable on offices dealing with emergency services, the order said.
According to the government order, gathering of more than 100 people for indoor activities and above 300 people for outdoor academic, sport, cultural and political events have also been prohibited in the hill state.
Earlier, the Himachal government clamped a night curfew till further orders and closed the educational institutions till January 26 amid a spike in Covid cases.
The order issued by the state Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh, read, "All offices of government departments/ PSUs/ local bodies/ autonomous bodies, including the HP Secretariat, will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays and these offices will operate with 50 per cent attendance on working days."
However, all offices dealing with emergency or essential services such as health, police, fire, banks, electricity, water and sanitation, public transport, telecom, excise, budget and related incident services/activities, were exempted from the order mentioned above.
As per the government order, academic, sport, entertainment, cultural and political gatherings are permitted up to the capacity of 50% of the venue, subject to a maximum of 100 people in indoor spaces and 300 people in outdoor areas.
However, separate notice will be issued by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh with respect to the judicial offices, the order added.
The order further said that prior intimation of gatherings will have to be given to the authorities, who may impose additional conditions.
The district magistrates may fix timings of shops or markets after taking into account the Covid situation in the state, as per the order.