Revised lockdown begins

The revised lockdown announced by the Supreme Committee on Covid-19 that directs some sectors to remain closed to control the virus spread came into effect at 4 am on Saturday.

The lockdown hours have been extended between 7 pm and 4 am from Saturday, May 8 until May 15, while all commercial activities banned from 4 am till 7 pm. Exemptions are food stores, healthcare centres, and gas stations.

'All are obliged to abide by the decisions of the Supreme Committee aimed at controling developments arising out of the pandemic failing of which stringent actions would be initiated against the offenders,' the ROP sources have said.

Any commercial activity not mentioned within the excluded activities may allow its owner to operate inside the facility or store without allowing customers to enter. Still, they can handle goods or make delivery through licensed companies.

Restaurants, cafes, and street vendors can practice their work during the ban period with no customers inside. Handling food and delivery are permitted during the period mentioned above.

Health workers, emergency vehicles and emergency services for electricity and water services only, workers in private hospitals and in pharmacies during the night shift are exempted from 7 pm to 4 am lockdown.

Workers in unloading and loading operations in factories and warehouses shouldn't move outside the factory or warehouse premises during the period of the ban, workers in fuel stations on a shift system via the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, marketing companies, and workers in the oil fields are allowed with strict restrictions.