Sindh announces revised COVID-19 restrictions to be implemented from August 9

Sindh announces revised COVID-19 restrictions to be implemented from Monday, August 9.

The new restrictions will last till August 31.

An official notification in this regard was issued on Sunday by the Sindh Home Department.

As per the notification, the following are the revised conditions for the province.

• Market and business activities may continue till 8 pm. Applicable on standalone grocery stores, fish and meat shops, vegetable and fruit vendors, e-commerce, and bakeries.
• Essential services are allowed to open longer. These include pharmacies, medical facilities, vaccination centres, petrol pumps, milk shops, and tandoors.
• Businesses to remain closed on Fridays and Sundays.
• Indoor dining will not be allowed. 
• Outdoor dining is allowed for a maximum of 300 people till 10 pm under strict coronavirus safety precautions.
• Takeaway and home delivery are allowed 24/7, subject to strict adherence to safety measures with staff and delivery personnel fully vaccinated.
• Indoor weddings banned. 
• Outdoor weddings are allowed with a maximum of 300 guests till 10 pm with strict enforcement of safety protocols.
• Shrines to remain closed.
• Cinemas to remain closed.
• Indoor gatherings, including cultural, musical, religious events prohibited. 
• Outdoor gatherings allowed for a maximum of 300 guests with strict enforcement of safety protocols.
• Contact sports banned.
• Gyms to allow only vaccinated individuals.
• Offices to only call 50% staff to work.
• Public transport to run on sanctioned routes with 50% occupancy and staff fully vaccinated. Snacks are not allowed onboard the vehicles.
• Railway services to continue with 50% occupancy, subject to enforcement of strict safety protocols and vaccination of all staff.
• Amusement parks, swimming pools, and water sports facilities will remain closed.
• Public parks to remain open subject to the following safety measures.
• Tourism activities to only be allowed for vaccinated individuals.
• Domestic airlines will no longer serve meals or snacks.
• Wearing masks is compulsory at all public places.

Earlier in the day, the Sindh education minister Sardar Ali Shah announced that the schools in the province will remain closed till August 19.