Quarantine curfew lifted, restrictions imposed on non-essential travel

Health officials issued travel restrictions that came into effect today following the lifting of the quarantine curfew at 4:00 a.m. after they were imposed on 20 August.

Inter-provincial restrictions will continue to be in effect and non-essential travel will not be permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. daily. Public gatherings will not be permitted until further notice and organisations have been advised to encourage employees to work from home.

According to the guidelines, persons can only leave the house for employment, health, and the purchasing of essential goods and services.

Factories, construction sites, and the agricultural sector will be permitted to operate under health guidelines.

Meetings, workshops, and conferences can be held at 25% capacity with a maximum of 25 persons until 15 October and 25% capacity with a maximum of 50 persons from 15 October to 31 October.

Indoor and outdoor parties, gatherings, and festivals, including those held at a place of residence will not be permitted this month.

Economic centres will be permitted to operate for wholesale trade under the supervision of regional health officials. Open markets and mobile vendors will be permitted to operate under the supervision of regional health officials.

Financial institutions can operate with a maximum of five persons at a time.

Restaurants are encouraged to arrange outdoor seating, but will not be permitted to open for dine-in customers until 15 October, after which they can operate at 30% capacity with a maximum of 50 persons or 60 persons diners are seated outdoors. However, restaurants will not be permitted to serve alcohol.

Takeaway and delivery services will be permitted.

Retail outlets and supermarkets can function at 10% capacity until 15 October and 20% capacity until the end of the month. Cinemas will remain closed.

Health officials state that hair salons can operate on an appointment-basis.

While measures are being taken to reopen schools, starting with schools with less than 200 students, preschools will be permitted to operate at 50% capacity and day-care centres can operate without a capacity limit specified. Universities can reopen based on given health instructions and vocational training centres can operate at 50% capacity.

Physical attendance at examinations will be permitted as per guidelines, but tuition classes will not be permitted.

Courts can operate as per guidelines.

Gyms can function with up to five persons until 15 October and the capacity will increase to 30% or up to 10 persons after 15 October. Persons are permitted to visit walking paths and beaches.

Sports activities will not be permitted until 15 October and specified activities will be permitted after 15 October.

Marriage registrations can take place with up to 10 persons until 15 October, after which the capacity limit will increase to 25% of the venue capacity or a maximum 50 persons.

Non-COVID-19 funerals can take place with a maximum of 10 persons at a time until 15 October, and 15 persons between 15 - 31 October.

Group activities and gatherings will not be permitted at places of worship in October and exhibitions and fairs will not be permitted in October.