Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Monday, 5 July 2021 03:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The Director General of Health Services yesterday issued revisions to the restrictions implemented on 21 June, stating that the revisions will be applicable for a 14-day period starting today and emphasising that inter-provincial travel continues to be prohibited.
Public transport can now operate at 30% capacity in the Western Province and will no longer be limited to essential services. The 50% capacity limit on public transport in other provinces remains unchanged.
Hired transport or taxis will be limited to the passenger capacity of the vehicle and not the two-passenger limit previously imposed.
Dining-in at restaurants is now permitted with adherence to health guidelines along with delivery and take-away services.
Indoor and outdoor parties, events, and gatherings will not be permitted. Pubs, bars, casinos, night clubs, and betting centres will remain closed but spas are permitted to operate.
Hotels and rest houses can open with adherence to health guidelines.
Restrictions on wedding receptions remain the same. They will not be permitted in any province, but marriage registrations are allowed with the participation of 10 persons, including the bride and groom.
With the exception of COVID-19 related deaths, all funerals must take place within 24 hours of the death with a maximum of 15 attendees at any given time.
Private gatherings in houses, including weddings and religious events, are still not permitted. Places of worship, cinemas, museums, parks, beaches, lake or river side areas will remain closed. Carnivals and musical shows will not be permitted. However, libraries can operate with adherence to health guidelines.
Utilities, essential services, and public and private organisations must operate only with the minimum requirement of on-site staff. Workers are encouraged to work from home. Meetings will be allowed in the Western Province as well as other provinces with a maximum of ten participants.
Conferences, seminars, and brand launches will be permitted in all provinces as hybrid events (virtual and physical) with a maximum of 25 on-site participants.
The requirement of a bio-secure bubble for garment and other industries is not mentioned in the revised guidelines and industries are permitted to function in all provinces.
The restriction of 10 customers at any given time and minimum required on-site staff continues to be applicable to financial institutions.
Agriculture is a sector permitted to operate across the island, but the revised guidelines specify a maximum 25 participants at the ‘kanna’ meetings.
The restrictions on open markets and fairs, economic centres, and mobile vendors remain unchanged, but registered street vendors and retail shops can now operate in the Western Province as well starting today.
The customer limit on grocery stores has been removed and they can operate as per health guidelines. Shopping malls can operate in the Western Province as well as other provinces but loitering, gatherings, activities and entertainment will not be permitted. Restrictions on bakeries and supermarkets remain the same.
Vehicle services centres and furniture, hardware shops and laundries are permitted to operate. Tailors, communication and photocopy centres, and other related outlets are permitted to function, with no mention of the previously specified three-customer limit.
Salons are permitted to operate but with prior appointment. The revised guidelines make no mention of a limit of one customer at a time.
Clothing and textile shops can operate at 25% capacity across the island.
Construction sites are permitted to function and no mention is made of the requirement to provide on-site accommodation for workers as stated in the previous guidelines.
Courts are permitted to function, but at 35% capacity including staff in the Western Province and 50% capacity including staff in other provinces.
No members of the public or prisoners will be permitted in the immediate vicinity of the courts unless with special permission from the relevant judge. The guidelines also specify that cases must be taken up on a staggered basis at the discretion of the presiding judge.
Care homes and prisons remain closed for visitors. Day-care centres can operate at 50% capacity on alternative days.
Examinations can now be conducted across the island under strict health guidelines. This does not apply to examinations held by the Education Ministry.
The restrictions on sporting activities remain the same, but gyms and indoor sporting centres can now operate with adherence to health guidelines. Swimming pools will remain closed. Walkways are open for individual exercises only.
