Unlock 1.0 highlights | Most malls in Kolkata open to enthusiastic response

Most of the malls in the city reopened on Monday sans their multiplex and entertainment zones in the first phase of 'Unlock 1' to relax lockdown restrictions across the country and had enthusiastic response from visitors.

Managements of majority of the malls said 50 to 70 percent of the shops in them, including those of the big brands, have opened.

Sushil Mohta, the owner of Acropolis Mall and a partner of South City Mall, said the average footfall in the shopping complexes was 50 to 60 percent of the normal times.

Malls like the South City, City Centre I and II, Acropolis, Lake Mall threw open their doors, while the Forum Mall will do so next week, managements of the malls said.

Places of worship, shopping malls and restaurants across Assam reopened to the public on Monday after remaining closed for around two-and-half months since the lockdown began on March 25 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Temples, mosques and gurudwaras, as well as shopping centres and eateries allowed entry to people while ensuring that social distancing norms are followed in accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, according to the authorities concerned.

However, the flow of devotees to shrines and customers to malls and restaurants was thin on the first day of their reopening as people are still apprehensive about catching the infection, they said.

Commercial and spiritual activities got a restart in southern states on Monday in line with the Centre's graded exit plan from the lockdown, 'Unlock 1.0' when temples, malls and restaurants resumed functioning after over a 70-day hiatus due to the coronavirus-induced curbs.

However, caution took centrestage in the resumption of activities with social distancing and certain other never before heard curbs, especially in temples, greeting shoppers, devotees and those visiting hotels.

Temples in Karnataka and Telangana were opened only for darshan while there were no special pujas.

All places of worship and shopping malls will continue to remain closed in Jharkhand as no new lockdown relaxations have been allowed by the state government, an official said on Monday.

Jharkhand is still in the "lockdown mode" as coronavirus cases are increasing by the day with the return of the migrants to the state.

A total of 1,143 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state so far, the official said. Of the total 1,143 novel coronavirus cases detected in the state, 822 are migrants.

According to reports from across the state, thin traffic has been witnessed in several areas though auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws are allowed to ply, adhering to safety protocols strictly.

A section of restaurants resumeddine-in services in Tamil Nadu on Monday after a gap of 74 days only to see lukewarm response from the public while a chunk of eateries stuck to takeaway services alone due to factors like labour shortage.

Restaurants that reopened the dine-in amenity had only 50 percent of the seats of the total capacity, saw people being allowed to enter after thermal screening, provision of hand sanitisers, while chairs and tables were arranged in a suitable manner to ensure social distancing and collected contact details of customers to track them in case of necessity.

Tamil Nadu Hotels Association president M Venkata Subbu said in Chennai only 25 per cent of the about 20,000 restaurants and in rest of the state, 75 per cent of approximately 30,000 hotels opened. (PTI)

The Pune district and sessionscourt, other lower and subordinate courts here in Maharashtra resumed work on Monday following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Some private offices also opened with limited staff, but the civic-run buses were yet to resume operations in the city.

"Bus services have started on some key routes in the neighbouring Pimpri Chinchward municipal limits, but operations are yet to resume in Pune city," an official fromPune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited said. (PTI)

Places of worship, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants reopened in Bihar after a gap of over two months on Monday with the state government having issued a notification to this effect in accordance with a directive issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The management of Mahavir Mandir, a famous temple of Patna, has made all arrangements to welcome devotees.

A thermal screening is being conducted at the entry gate of the temple, while automatic hand-sanitiser dispensers have been installed at several places inside and outside the temple.

"Only asymptomatic devotees are being allowed to enter the temple premises," a constable, who was conducting the thermal screening, said.

The P&M Mall, a prominent shopping mall in the state capital, is all set to welcome people after more than two months.Stickers have been pasted at the entrance asking people to maintain a distance of at least six feet with each other.

Most temples across Uttarakhand reopened their gates for devotees on Monday after a gap of more than three months except the famous Chardham in Garhwal Himalayas and those within the limits of Dehradun municipal area.

Barring Chardham and the temples located within Dehradun municipal area, all shrines in the state have been reopened, CEO of Devasthanam Board Ravinath Raman told news agency PTI.

A decision on reopening Chardham, including Badrinarth, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, for pilgrims will be taken in a day or two after taking priests and stakeholders into confidence over the matter, he said.

Places of worship in Chennai remain shut as no guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been issued by the State Government regarding their reopening, although Centre allowed reopening of religious places from today. (ANI)

Devotees were seen taking holy dip in river Ganga at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar as Government allows places of worship to reopen from today.
Uttarakhand government has allowed religious places to remain open from 7 am to 7 pm. Pilgrims from places outside State not allowed till further orders. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh will begin lifting the lockdown in a phased manner, as several states ease some of the restrictions.

The night curfew of 9 pm to 5 am, as advised by the Centre, will continue in the state. Only essential activities will be permitted in containment zones.

Here's what will be allowed from today, and what will remain restricted in the state.

Unlock 1.0 | Temples open doors to devotees; malls, restaurants resume operations as lockdown eased

The government has eased the coronavirus lockdown restrictions to reopen malls, religious places, restaurants and hotels to revive activities impacted by the pandemic.... Read More

Although the Centre issued detailed guidelines on May 30 listing a host of activities that would be allowed as the country gradually reopens after the months-long lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to not lift the restrictions until June 30.

However, while continuing with the curbs on religious activities and malls, gyms, etc., Chief Minister K Palaniswami has introduced certain relaxations vis-à-vis public transport, reopening of offices.