DM orders relaxations for opening of restaurants, hotels & other hospitality services

The District Magistrate Mr. Girish Dayalan today ordered certain relaxations with immediate effect for the opening of restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality services.  The restaurants are allowed dine-in facility till 8 pm with 50 percent occupancy or 50 guests, whichever is less. The restaurants in the hotels are allowed to serve food including buffet meals up-to 50 percent of their seating capacity or 50 guests, whichever is less. These restaurants would also be open to the persons other than hotel guests but the timings for both the hotel guests as well as the persons from outside would be till 8 pm. The bars shall remain closed. However, liquor can be served in the rooms and restaurants as permitted under the excise policy of the State.

The marriages, other social functions, and open-air parties in banquet halls, marriage palaces, hotels, and open venues can be organized up to 50 persons. The number of guests excluding catering staff shall not exceed 50 persons. The size of the banquet hall shall be at least 5,000 sq.feet based on the requirement of 10’x10′ area for a person for the purpose of maintaining adequate social distancing. The management of the hotels and other hospitality services would be obliged to comply with the SoPs of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Any violations of these guidelines and lockdown measures shall be punishable under sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 besides legal action under sections 188 of the IPC. All concerned shall ensure compliance of the advisories on the different subjects issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab.