Sikkim: Government announces re-opening in phases

June 9, 2020: The government of Sikkim, in an order released on Tuesday, has made multiple announcements re-opening hotels, restaurants, gyms, shops and others.

This decision comes at a time when the numbers can be seen rising in the only Indian state besides Nagaland which did not have a single positive Covid-19 positive case till a few days ago.

6 more people have tested positive as on Tuesday making the total count of Covid-19 patients 10.

The correctness of the state government can be put to question as it decides to open gyms from Wednesday, the 10th of June from 7 am to 6 pm.

Although the state Health Department has instructed to maintain only 50% occupancy at one time, the possibility of maintaining safety protocols which includes proper sanitization, social distancing norms can be a source of worry in the state.

Shops will remain open from 8 am to 6 pm and hotels and restaurants will be allowed to remain open from 8 AM to 8 PM from the same day with a 50% capacity inhouse. Unlike before, these 50 per cent of people will be allowed to sit in the restaurants and enjoy their meal, increasing the risk of spread of the virus.

Again, the state Health Department has instructed not to violate any Standard Operating Procedure.

Restrictions, however, have been put on any movement of vehicles between 9 pm to 7 am.

Inter-district movement of people and vehicles are to resume from 18th June keeping in mind the odd-even rule. The inter-state movement of goods and vehicles, on the other hand, will be allowed for all vehicles barring light transport vehicles.