Gujarat eases more COVID curbs, lifts night curfew in 18 towns

A decision to ease more COVID curbs in Gujarat, effective from Sunday, was taken at a meeting of the government's core committee. Among a slew of relaxations in restrictions imposed earlier to curb COVID-19 cases, the government allowed opening of cinema halls, multiplexes and auditoriums at 50 per cent capacity, permitted shops to do business till 9 pm instead of 7 pm.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government on Thursday announced lifting of night curfew from 18 towns and relaxing its timing in the same number of urban centres by one hour even as it allowed cinema halls, multiplexes and auditoriums to function at 50 per cent capacity in view of a sharp drop in new COVID-19 cases. A decision to ease more curbs, effective from Sunday, was taken at a meeting of the government's core committee on COVID-19. Among a slew of relaxations in restrictions imposed earlier to curb COVID-19 cases, the government allowed opening of cinema halls, multiplexes and auditoriums at 50 per cent capacity, permitted shops to do business till 9 pm instead of 7 pm and allowed buses to ply at 75 per cent of their seating capacity, an official release said. The core committee, headed by chief minister Vijay Rupani, also directed that all those involved in vocational activities must get vaccinated by July 10, it said.