ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Wednesday issued a notification lifting the lockdown allowing all sectors to operate, except for marriage halls, marquees, educational institutions and contact sports, Dawn has learnt.

A notification issued from Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat’s office will be effective from Aug 10.

The notification said: “In compliance with decisions of the NCOC, the lockdown orders are hereby withdrawn. All sectors except marriage halls, marquees, educational institutions and contact sports are hereby allowed to operate with effect from Aug 10, subject to adoption of standard operating procedures [SOPs] guidelines. Religious congregations shall be allowed after approval from capital administration and subject to adoption of SOPs and guidelines. Timings and weekly holidays are hereby reverted to pre Covid-19 practice, subject to adoption of SOPs and guidelines. All kinds of public transport is hereby allowed to operate subject to adoption of SOPs and guidelines.”

Capital admin issues notification effective from Aug 10

Meanwhile, the capital administration in consultation with the Ministry of Health Services, Regulation and Coordination also issued separate SOPs for resumption of cinemas, theatre, restaurants, and tourism operations in the capital.

“Covid-19 is a highly transmissible disease which spreads through respiratory droplets produced during coughing, sneezing and talking of the infected persons including asymptomatic people. The droplets may contaminate the surface and hands.

“Touching eyes, mouth, and nose with contaminated hands may transmit the virus. Restaurants, cinema halls and theatres are required to ensure compliance to Covid-19 prevention key principles,” the notification stated.

“Tourism contributes significantly to the national economy and is a desired health promoting activity. It includes sightseeing, visit to heritage sites, monuments, museums, hill stations and historic places.

“Family excursions with fun activities like joy land, rides, dine out and photography involves surface sharing and are pro-crowded events. Participants of tourism are highly prone to sharing surfaces, catch infectious agents, and wider dispersal and transmission of the infectious agent. Therefore, strict compliance to hand hygiene, social distancing, environmental cleanliness and abstinence from touching shared surfaces is required in true letter and spirit,” it added.

Guidelines about hand hygiene, respiratory etiquettes, social distancing, cleanliness and disinfection, health status and awareness about Covid-19 were also shared.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020