Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday (29 April) announced the extension of lockdown in his state by two more weeks after 3 May, the last day of nationwide lockdown imposed by the central government, Hindustan Times reported.

In a video message, while announcing the lockdown extension to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak in the state the CM said the curfew restrictions will be eased for four hours every day for people’s movement and shops can open in the given period.

Later, guidelines were issued by state’s information and public relations department for shops to open in staggered manner from 7:00am to 11:00am, while maintaining social distancing, using facemasks and hand sanitisers.

“The State Home Department has issued detailed guidelines clarifying that the word ‘shopping complexes’ is replaced with ‘market complexes’ within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities meaning thereby that activities in market complexes would continue to remain prohibited till May 3, 2020,” the statement said.

However, the shops that are registered under the Shops & Establishment Act except multi-brand or single-brand shops or complexes are allowed to open in rural areas with only half of their staff.

In cities, market areas, complexes and malls will remain shut and only stand-alone shops, neighbourhood shops and those in residential complexes can operate in the given time period. Salons and other such service establishments are going to stay shut as usual.

E-commerce services will only be allowed to deliver essential items during the extended curfew.

According to covid19India.org tracker, Punjab has so far reported 342 COVID-19 positive cases including 19 casualties. The state has 222 active cases as of Wednesday evening.