Sikkim government has notified new measures to control COVID-19 with further relaxations. The new guidelines will be effective from 5 a.m. on 14th of June, till when the current complete lockdown will be in place, to 5 a.m. on 21st of June. The current lockdown was implemented from 16th of May due to a surge in cases and was extended in phases.
As per the new guidelines effective during 14th to 21st June, restrictions on inter-state and inter-district movement will continue excluding the movement of army, government officials, commercial goods vehicles and for emergency and essential services. All vehicles including private cars, taxis and two-wheelers will be allowed to ply with odd-even stipulation within districts. Two-wheelers will be allowed to ply without pillion riders.
Government vehicles will be allowed to operate without the odd and even stipulation from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. locally. The odd-even rule will not be applicable to commercial goods vehicles including trucks ferrying essential commodities. Movement of passengers boarding or returning from Pakyong or Bagdogra airports and New Jalpaiguri Railway station in West Bengal will be allowed on the production of journey tickets and negative RT-PCR reports conducted within 72 hours of arrival.
All licensed stand-alone shops and e-commerce and home delivery services can operate till 5 p.m. Commercial establishments can operate with 50 per cent staff. Restaurants, fast food centres, sweet shops and bakeries have been allowed to operate till 8 p.m. with 50 per cent seating capacity. Home delivery of food has been permitted till 8 p.m. All gymnasiums, barber shops, spas, saloons and parlours may also operate till 5 p.m. with 50 per cent capacity. Pharma companies have been allowed to operate with 100 per cent staff while other production units may work with 50 per cent staff. All State Government offices have been allowed to function with 50 per cent staff. Private construction with local labourers, MGNREGA, agricultural and horticultural activities have also been permitted while a night curfew will be in place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
