UP Exempts Industries Producing Essential Items From 35-Hour "Weekly Closure"

Marriages on the weekend will be allowed with 50 people in closed spaces and 100 in open spaces with strict adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour.

People employed with the continuous process industries and those producing essential items like medicines and sanitisers in Uttar Pradesh will be allowed to go to work during the 35-hour "weekly closure" from 8 pm today until 7 am on Monday, an official said. The state government also said that marriages on Saturday and Sunday will take place amid restrictions with only 50 people in closed spaces and 100 in open spaces, adidng, organisers will have to ensure COVID-appropriate behaviour. Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the state government on Friday had announced "weekend closure" every week till May 15 and also said that those caught for the second time not wearing a mask will be fined Rs 10,000. The fine has doubled to Rs 1,000 for first-time offenders. In a statement issued on Saturday, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said, "The chief minister has directed that during the corona-curfew of 35 hours, all continuous process industries and accordingly, their workers shall be allowed movement to their workplaces."