Bars in Delhi’s restaurants, hotels and clubs were closed from March and now with Unlock 4 giving a number of relaxations on the lockdown bars will reopen in Delhi from September 9. Bars will be opened from September 9 with strict regulations, including 50 per cent seating and no facility for standing customers.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) took the decision on Thursday and the decision will be implemented on a trial basis till the end of this month.
The guidelines state, social distancing and masks will be compulsory, and staff and patrons will be screened for COVID-19 indications. The DDMA has also ordered that premises should be sanitised regularly and staff members should wear gloves and masks.
Failure to follow the guidelines will result in sealing of buildings and may even lead to the excise licence being invalid, in adding to action against the owner under the Disaster Management Act and Section 188 of the IPC.
From June, when contagion curbs were relaxed in phases, restaurant and hotel owners have reached out to the government many times seeking permission to serve liquor and help increase footfall. While eateries were allowed to recommence on June 8, hotels were allowed to restart last month.
PUBS, BARS TO REOPEN IN KARNATAKA
Along with the nation’s capital, the Karnataka government has also permitted bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants in the state to serve liquor with 50 per cent seating capacity. There were limitations on serving liquor for five months when the lockdown was imposed first and until now only takeaways were permitted at these establishments. They have been tutored to firmly follow the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coronavirus.
In Maharashtra, which is the worst-hit state in terms of rising cases of COVID-19, bars will remain shut with hotels gave permission to work on 100 per cent capacity. The hotels will receive Standard Operating Procedure from the government.
