The District Magistrate on Thursday issued a new set of guidelines and safety norms to de-escalate the growing transmission of coronavirus in Lucknow, which saw an unprecedented surge in the month of July. These new guidelines will be imposed in the city from Monday, post the 2 day lockdown that is being observed in the state.
Odd even system to bring partial relief
The Pandemic Act 1897 allows the DM of Lucknow to re-introduce certain guidelines to slow down the surge of coronavirus in the city. As the spread of the coronavirus is on a rise, the DM’s office has ordered the imposition of the necessary safety norms in the industrial and business installations and private offices/institutions.
This revised order has employed an odd – even formula for opening of those establishments that are in a cluster of 10, or more, in markets, malls and shopping complexes. Shops in the city will be marked with orange and green stickers alternately and will open alternate days. The markets will be sanitised thoroughly on the weekly offs. The timing of operations has also been brought down by one hour in Lucknow; the new timings to open shop in the city is from 9 am to 8 pm. However, the shops selling essential items, groceries, dairy products and fuels are exempted from this order.
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The new order directs the shop owners to use a polythene sheet to cover all commodities on sale. Customers would not be allowed to touch these items until the final purchase. The number of customers in a shop has to be regulated and limited and entry would be allowed only after sanitization measures have been taken. The employee in charge of parceling items for home deliveries and delivery executives have to wear masks, gloves, head cover and shoe covers.
A similar odd even system will be employed for public vehicles in the city. The Lucknow RTO has been directed to make sure that the public transport system of the city, including buses, e-rickshaws and autorickshaws, run only on designated routes based on even and odd registration number. While the responsibility of passenger’s safetly has to be ensured by the drivers, those of the de-congestion of roads and maintaining social distancing between vehicles have been entrusted with the police. The police along with LMC and revenue department employees have constituted quick response teams to ensure safety protocols at public places. Fines shall be imposed on those violating the order. If a shop or commercial institution will flout the safety protocol as imposed in order, the registration of the shop will be cancelled and the owner will be made to distribute 500 masks daily.
The order also restricts all government employees deployed in Covid-19 duties in Lucknow from taking leaves till August 31. The DM himself will approve all leaves applied for any unavoidable circumstances during this period. All private and public sector employees have been advised to install the Aarogya Setu App. Operations of private establishments are encouraged to be implemented from work from home. In case of essential operations, 50% of the work force is permitted to go to work. However, the administration department of offices need to ensure the execution of all safety procedures and protocols.
As earlier, all activities in containment zones will remain suspended.
Knock Knock
Lucknow’s administrative and executive set up have taken all proactive and reactive measures to control the surge of coronavirus in the city. As the local authorities revise the guidelines to fight the coronavirus with a newer spirit, it is the responsibility of all Lucknowites to support and follow the new norms to the T!
