Shops, shopping malls to remain open till 4pm

The government has decided to allow keeping shops and shopping malls open till 4:00pm every day from 10 May maintaining health guidelines during the general holidays extended until May 16 considering Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Shops will be allowed to remain open to do business on a limited scale from 10:00am to 4:00pm from 10 May.

The Cabinet Division issued some directives in this regard on Monday, saying various emergency services will remain out of the purview of the directives.

But all have to maintain safe distance and follow health guidelines during buying and selling. Big shopping malls will have to make arrangements for hand washing at their entrances and disinfecting vehicles entering the malls, the directives said.

The government has extended the general holidays from 7 May until 16 May in a bid to tackle the worsening coronavirus situation in the country.

The gazette notification said 6 May will be considered as public holiday for Buddha Purnima while 8-9 May and 15-16 May will be included in the general holidays as weekly holidays.