The Nilgiris district administration has announced of opening shops and certain establishments, with restrictions. Social distancing, handwashing and face masks are mandatory. Flying squads appointed to monitor, violators will be fined.
The Nilgiris: The Nilgiris district administration has announced relaxation of lock down by permitting certain establishments and services to resume services, during this extended lockdown period. However, restrictions will continue at containment zones.
Permission has been granted for farming and tea factory activities. In addition to this, all government department construction works can commence. Self employed skilled workers such as plumbers, electricians, AC mechanics and carpenters can resume work after obtaining permission from the District Collector.
Individual shops in the rural and urban areas have been permitted to function from 10 AM to 5 PM. This includes,printing press, hardware, cement, construction material shops, sanitary ware, shops selling electrical appliances, mobile phone stores, computer shops, home appliance shops, electric motor, repair shops, optical stores, repair shops, vegetable shops, grocery shops, utensils stores, bakeries, medical shops, meat shops and fruit shops.
Additionally, following the meeting with the traders association members on May 4, it was decided that vegetable shops and meat shops will continue operation.
Fancy stores, utensil shops, book stores, grocery stores and footwear shops in Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri areas will be granted permission to remain open, based on the decision of the Revenue Divisional Officer.
Restaurants will be permitted to allow parcel service between 6 AM to 7 PM. Food delivery services will continue to function, as per the earlier norms.
Some of the shops have however been denied permission to operate and this includes tea shops, cloth stores, jewellery stores, barber shops, beauty parlours, liquor shops, theaters, hostels, business complexes, recreational parks and tailoring shops.
Shops that have been permitted to function have been mandated to clean their areas, twice a day using disinfectants. Toilets need to be disinfected every one hour using prescribed disinfectants.
All employees must wear face masks and identity cards. Employees must be advised to wash their hands frequently or use hand sanitizers. Shop owners must not employ sick employees or those above 55 years of age. All organisations with more than 200 employees must appoint a doctor at their premises to monitor the health of the employees.
Marking must be made in front of the shops to indicate social distancing. Flying squads that have been appointed for this purpose will monitor all the areas, continuously. Cases will be filed on people who do not maintain social distancing and those who don't wear face masks.
Similarly, shops that do not insist on social distancing will be sealed.
"People stepping out of their homes for essential reasons, must mandatorily wear face masks and also maintain social distancing. So far, people of the Nilgiris district have been very supportive of the lockdown. The district administration has requested the support of the people to curb the spread of COVID-19 and make Nilgiris, a corona free district.